tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28451073370205282622024-03-05T16:58:52.214-05:00Amelia On The RoadDiane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-64940570088023154182016-07-31T16:25:00.002-04:002016-07-31T16:25:38.089-04:00In the Rearview -- Superlatives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9OE4R-REzk58RJzpsCGNi12DByvBzVFEPqyw1Z695uZAqRlwL5hJjP43Y5MhMI85U8lwZczKRkJtM7peiCtzVdJcH6J0IBqzGfeXSMgSgbVB-VoTIhWeq_K2PeUzAzsrwR0bNMY0ibkE/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9OE4R-REzk58RJzpsCGNi12DByvBzVFEPqyw1Z695uZAqRlwL5hJjP43Y5MhMI85U8lwZczKRkJtM7peiCtzVdJcH6J0IBqzGfeXSMgSgbVB-VoTIhWeq_K2PeUzAzsrwR0bNMY0ibkE/s640/IMG_0319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Diane's favorite picture of Me as Intrepid Explorer.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
One other things Diane and I have been keeping track of throughout our journey is a list of what Diane calls "Superlatives," the bests and worsts of where we've been.<br />
<br />
Before we got any further, a disclaimer: This list is based on our experiences and observations and is in no way scientific or based on research into reliable facts. There are just the impressions of a woman and her dog, but we think our impressions are pretty reliable.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
New York</h2>
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Saddest attempt to capitalize on nature's splendor</i>: Niagara Falls</li>
<ul>
<li>The fact is nothing humans can build can compete with the wonder of the falls, which perhaps explain why the town of Niagara is so sad.</li>
</ul>
<li><i>Most beautiful waterway to drive along at sunset</i>: The Erie Canal.</li>
<ul>
<li>The reflection of sunset in the calm, still waters is stunning.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Ohio</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Saddest evidence of how humans ruin everything</i>: Lake Erie</li>
<ul>
<li>Oh the pollution. The lake stank. And was full of bacteria and algae. It was sad.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2>
Indiana</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Worst toll road rest areas: </i>I90</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<h2>
Wisconsin</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Worst cell phone reception, small town category: </i>Tomah, WI</li>
<li><i>Bounciest highway</i>: Madison, WI</li>
<ul>
<li>It looked smooth but looks can be deceiving. We bumped and bounced so much we thought parts were going to start flying off.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h2>
Minnesota</h2>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Most picturesque farms</i></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<h2>
South Dakota</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Fewest Walmarts</i></li>
<li><i>Darkest interstate highway</i></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<h2>
Wyoming</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Craziest sky</i></li>
<li><i>Best weather-watching</i></li>
<li><i>Windiest</i></li>
<li><i>Greatest concentration of pickup trucks </i></li>
<li><i>Most freight trains</i></li>
<li><i>Most Scenic Turnouts on the Interstate</i></li>
<li><i>Most enthusiastic sport climbers</i></li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<ul><ul>
<li>We spent more time in Wyoming than anywhere else (6 nights!), which was enough to make a number of observations. Montana may be the home of Big Sky, but we didn't go anywhere with a bigger sky than Wyoming. It was big and crazy. You can watch storms swirling thirty miles away, and the ceaseless wind absolutely will knock you down. There are scenic pull-offs or "turnouts" constantly along the highway so you can enjoy the vast sky and brutal wind. Everyone here has a pickup truck and freight trains rumble constantly across the high plains. There's a lot of rock climbing here, mostly bolted routes</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i>Most Scenic National Forest Drive</i>: The Loop Road from Sinks Canyon through Shoshone National Forest</li>
<ul>
<li>It's mostly a dirt road but it is smooth and can be driven by any sort of car, no off-road vehicle required.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Colorado</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Steepest paved road in Eastern Colorado: </i>Magnolia Road (20% grades!)</li>
<ul>
<li>Todd's brother-in-law Ian informed us that Magnolia Road is actually, factually one of the steepest paved roads in the state. We should NOT have driven on it. Seriously. </li>
</ul>
<li><i>Most festive vibe</i>: Boulder</li>
<ul>
<li>Boulder feels like a beach town with no ocean even though it is also a real city where people have real jobs.</li>
</ul>
<li><i>Most dog friendly city town</i>: Boulder</li>
<ul>
<li>Residents of Boulder can get have their dog certified to be off-leash! They go and do some kind of test and then they get a special tag so their dogs can be off-leash in public. How progressive is that? </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h2>
Idaho</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Brightest High Beams</i></li>
<ul>
<li>You've never seen anything like it (unless you're from Idaho)</li>
</ul>
<li><i>Greatest Proportion of Land Designated as National Forest</i></li>
<ul>
<li>Take a look on a map and you'll see what I mean</li>
</ul>
<li><i>Friendliest People</i></li>
<ul>
<li>Camping in Idaho was the first time people stopped to ask us questions about the Big Rolling Crate. Sure, here and there we'd had comments from people before Idaho, but in Idaho people introduced themselves, asked questions, told us their stories, and suggested places we might like to visit. </li>
</ul>
<li><i>Biggest Mosquitos West of Maine</i></li>
<li><i>Meanest Horseflies</i></li>
<li><i>Most Plentiful Hot Springs</i></li>
<ul>
<li>If the people we talked to at the hot spring we visited are to be believed, this is factual. They said there are more hot springs in Idaho than any other state.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2>
Washington</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Greatest Concentration of Small, Independent Roadside Coffee Stands</i></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<h2>
Montana</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>The Most Letters on Hillsides</i></li>
<ul>
<li>Every town seems to have a hill, and on every hill, written very large, is the first letter of the town's name. M for Missoula, F for Frenchtown, B for Butte, you get the idea.</li>
</ul>
<li><i>Best Electric Light Show</i></li>
<ul>
<li>The thunderstorm we witnessed was intense and beautiful and, we suspect, not usual around these parts</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
Connecticut</h2>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Worst State to Drive Through</i></li>
<ul>
<li>We drove through 19 states and our suspicion that Connecticut is the worst state to drive through was only confirmed. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<h2>
Maine</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Best Place to Spend a Week by the Sea</i></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<h2>
Massachusetts</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Place We Most Want to Live</i></li>
<ul>
<li>Our travels were amazing, but at the end of it all, we love living in Central Mass!</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
Well, dear readers, thank you for sharing our journey with us. We hope you enjoyed. We're taking the month of August off from social media, but you can always reach us via <a href="mailto:diane@dvmulligan.com">Email</a> or via <a href="http://www.dvmulligan.com/">Diane's website</a>.</div>
Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-41968208561013527852016-07-31T15:49:00.000-04:002018-06-10T18:13:33.174-04:00Our Trip By the Numbers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsbPnEpHhpSn-DuWavCYojE0I9g1yeIyo40UNmlzypBjBY6-LnuN6BZ8JnoahR7kLIFEyohPOO1MtNIlDWDeyG_ksSYOLgZmi4RSsYgpMcc_oz2aLf2-GqS-_AUwankKPZZJUNM_gU510/s1600/teton+sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsbPnEpHhpSn-DuWavCYojE0I9g1yeIyo40UNmlzypBjBY6-LnuN6BZ8JnoahR7kLIFEyohPOO1MtNIlDWDeyG_ksSYOLgZmi4RSsYgpMcc_oz2aLf2-GqS-_AUwankKPZZJUNM_gU510/s640/teton+sunset.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Diane and Todd have been keeping all sorts of stats throughout the Todyssey so I thought I'd share a few with you!<br />
<br />
<h3>
8005</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The total number of miles we traveled over the course of 31 days.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
585.814</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Gallons of diesel purchased on our trip. The price of diesel varied quite a lot from state to state but $2.50 is a reasonable average. We'll leave it to you to do the math on that, though.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
19</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of states we drove through:</li>
<ul>
<li>On the way out: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, back to Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon</li>
<li>On the way back: Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
10</h3>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of nights spent camping in a State Park, National Forest, or National Park</li>
<ul>
<li>Two nights in South Dakota</li>
<li>Two nights in Colorado</li>
<li>Four nights in Wyoming</li>
<li>Two nights in Idaho</li>
</ul>
<li>Also the number of states where Amelia swam:</li>
<ul>
<li>Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Pennsylvania, Maine</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
8</h3>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of nights spent sleeping in Walmart Parking lots. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<h3>
6</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of nights we spent in hotels. It would have only been 4 if it weren't for the breakdown in Idaho, which caused two very unplanned hotel nights.</li>
<li>Also the number of nights we didn't camp, Walmart, or hotel (1 night at a KOA (which is definitely NOT camping), 1 night at a rest area, 1 night at a truck stop, 1 night at Jeanne's, 1 night at Diane's mom's, and 1 night when we didn't sleep at all)</li>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
5</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of National Parks/National Monuments we visited:</li>
<ul>
<li>The Badlands, Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Craters of the Moon, and Roosevelt National Park</li>
</ul>
<li>Also the number of State Parks we visited:</li>
<ul>
<li>Sinks Canyon (Wyoming), John B. Yeon State Park (Oregon), Cape Disappointment State Park (Washington), Ollalie State Park (Washington), Iron Horse State Park (Washington)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
4</h3>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of National Forests where we camped:</li>
<ul>
<li>The Black Hills (South Dakota), Arapahoe & Roosevelt National Forest (Colorado), Shoshone National Forest (Wyoming), Sawtooth National Forest (Idaho)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
2</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of wild fires we encountered</li>
<ul>
<li>The Nederland Fire in Colorado</li>
<li>The Mile Marker 14 Fire in Idaho</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>
1</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of cupholders in the cab of the Big Rolling Crate. Back in olden times when the Big Rolling Crate was new, people weren't big babies who needed to constantly be sucking on a bottle of water or a cup of coffee or a smoothie or whatever. If you are wondering why this deserves to be in our list, you try to driving 1800 miles in 38 hours with two adults and only one cupholder and let me know how it goes. To our credit, we only spilled two cups of coffee all month. </li>
<li>Also the number of iPhones that were broken on the Todyssey.</li>
<li>Additionally, the number of boat rides Diane and Todd took (the shuttle across Jenny Lake at the Grand Tetons)</li>
<li>This is also the number of vanilla milkshakes Diane had during the Todyssey. The number she would have liked to have: All of them.</li>
<li>And finally one is the number of breakdowns suffered by the Big Rolling Crate.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<h3>
0</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The number of rainy days during our travels. We literally had zero rainy days! We had passing afternoon thunderstorms all three days in the Black Hills, we had a ten minute thunderstorm in the Tetons, we had a little drizzle in Seaside, OR, and we had passing showers on the last two days of the drive home, but we never had a single washout day. The sun was shining on us for a month. Oh that relentless Western sun! Always, always, always shining on us. It's been the sunniest summer of our lives, and one we will never forget.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-37796950375887729902016-07-31T13:27:00.004-04:002016-07-31T13:27:48.424-04:001800 Miles in Under 40 Hours: It's exactly as fun as it sounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpkYe8Aq5WTzde6kgqWse6zfIrMK1ppZLuvmnu1ZmXW5ySc_W2aPRK7HRdhMBfo1TFH5Hw0DNqmQbPzNx7ovbkbRyXl3AU52GfSQKCY1OomF_OYih9MC5oU_CR4DUyUypNxd0WR-xkZGz/s1600/IMG_9493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpkYe8Aq5WTzde6kgqWse6zfIrMK1ppZLuvmnu1ZmXW5ySc_W2aPRK7HRdhMBfo1TFH5Hw0DNqmQbPzNx7ovbkbRyXl3AU52GfSQKCY1OomF_OYih9MC5oU_CR4DUyUypNxd0WR-xkZGz/s400/IMG_9493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We were on the road by 9AM on Thursday, July 28, and we didn't get off the road until 12:30 AM on Saturday, July 30. Our only stops in that time were<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A very quick stop at Roosevelt National Park to stand at an overlook of the Painted Canyons in North Dakota's Badlands.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2xAF88_2KRjfzgJfwRUU3la6XikcBQGbc7LRK1E8o8CGlOV7NAcfSM0gAu0jxxDkI4BJ6OtZ_HYWm4xQfyQ4zDhhxyqucOcaG7UG_Rn3z8GOmHw1SiUXI4O6IL55uBj0F89xloN0xcSS/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2xAF88_2KRjfzgJfwRUU3la6XikcBQGbc7LRK1E8o8CGlOV7NAcfSM0gAu0jxxDkI4BJ6OtZ_HYWm4xQfyQ4zDhhxyqucOcaG7UG_Rn3z8GOmHw1SiUXI4O6IL55uBj0F89xloN0xcSS/s400/IMG_1049.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>A one-hour lunch break at a Cracker Barrel somewhere in North Dakota (delicious fried chicken, btw)</li>
<li>And stops every 325 miles or so for gas.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aside from that Cracker Barrel lunch, Diane and Todd ate snacks while they drove and drank a lot of coffee. It was overcast on Thursday and rained on and off, and Diane and Todd were actually grateful for that. For the first time in weeks they didn't need sunglasses and the rain helped keep the road cool, which was good for the Big Rolling Crate. They had thought they were driving into a massive heatwave, but actually they were driving with the front that was breaking up the heatwave, and good thing since the Big Rolling Crate tends to overheat and effectively has no AC (because when the AC runs the engine runs hotter so you can't run the AC when it's hot out).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
North Dakota was long but we made it to Minnesota and then Wisconsin. Diane was driving when we crossed the state lines and as it was nearly one in the morning, she drove back to the Walmart in Tomah, WI where we'd stayed on the drive out, thinking we'd get some shut eye. Todd, however, had other ideas. Diane got in the back with me, Todd got behind the wheel, got a coffee at McDonald's, and got back on the highway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately, with no co-pilot to navigate, Todd made a mistake that should have told him it was time to get some shut-eye: As he drove on I94 East, he saw signs for I90, which he knew we needed to take to get home, so he exited I94----and got on I90 West. And he didn't realize it until he'd gone 45 miles and had returned to the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. He hadn't realized that I94 East and I90 East actually run together for a while, and thus caused himself two extra hours of driving.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Diane was a nervous wreck in the back of the Big Rolling Crate, so she hardly got any sleep. Finally at 5AM when Todd stopped for gas, she got back up front to help him navigate because we were approaching Chicago.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulyfK6zYvYsaCHaPr-NDCJY7-TshS2ZMCwaJAsitJaCpGg7qROSR4774_O7sjn1v1b_8jGgLsIgK_lW5cNm3rIQ460HTAJGpVDKACedwItBYMQoEnOhl3zoxcwTank6QPFSeoHWnyo0yI/s1600/IMG_6514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulyfK6zYvYsaCHaPr-NDCJY7-TshS2ZMCwaJAsitJaCpGg7qROSR4774_O7sjn1v1b_8jGgLsIgK_lW5cNm3rIQ460HTAJGpVDKACedwItBYMQoEnOhl3zoxcwTank6QPFSeoHWnyo0yI/s400/IMG_6514.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the Illinois border we returned to the miserable land of toll roads. Between Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, we paid nearly $60 in tolls. In a car, it would have been cheaper, but still! Out west there were no toll roads. They know about living free out there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We passed Chicago around 7:30 (really enjoyed that morning rush hour traffic!) and once we were outside the city, Todd passed the job of driving on to Diane. And so they alternated through the day. Driving, driving, driving. Construction zone after construction zone. Here a little rain shower, here a spot of sun. Driving, driving, driving. It's so noisy in the Big Rolling Crate that they had to shout to talk to each other and I think we're all going deaf a little. We were all dirty, cranky, stiff, and eager to just be done with the blasted driving.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As we drove through Ohio, Todd surprised Diane again, this time by conceding that there was no way we could drive straight through to Worcester (let alone Maine). It was too far, the Big Rolling Crate needed a break (the check engine light started coming on intermittently back in Montana), and we all needed sleep. We had two choices:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Take I90 through NY state (and pay a million more tolls) and sleep in a Walmart parking lot somewhere</li>
<li>Take I80 through PA and sleep at Diane's mom's house.</li>
</ul>
We knew Diane's mom, Mammam Dot, as I call her, would probably be with Dave at his lake house, which is one of my all-time favorite places to visit, and which isn't too far off I84. I hadn't had a good walk in days, let alone a chance to run free or swim, so Diane called her mom and made a plan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, Pennsylvania, you're endless and hilly like a Western state but at lower elevation and with lower speed limits but faster traffic. Out west, the speed limit was often 70, 75, or even 80, but it seemed like not that many people really drove at 80 mph and we didn't feel our slow place was a danger to us, but back east, the speed limit is generally 65 or even 55, but everyone is going 80 and our top speed of 55 feels like a real hazard.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Around mile mark 111, we crested the highest point on I80 east of the Mississippi at 2225 feet. You'll recall we crossed the highest point on all of I80 weeks ago in Wyoming, so it feels like we had the full experience of I80.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We finally, finally, finally make it to the lake at 12:30 in the morning. Mammam Dot had waited up for us and greeted us with hugs. In the morning, I got to swim and run around and eat goose and deer poop and it was so much fun. At noon, when Todd told me to get back in the Big Rolling Crate, I was absolutely brokenhearted. We didn't even get to spend 12 whole hours there! But that's life on the road, I guess.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The drive from PA to MA was uneventful and even Connecticut didn't cause us too many slow downs, but remember, our top speed means we don't get anywhere fast. We got to Worcester around 6 and I was so happy to see our house! And Taco! It was just the same as when we left!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But we didn't even stay a whole hour. Todd got his windsurfer and Diane got her car and it was back on the road. I went with Diane in her small red crate, which is quiet and fast and has delightful air conditioning, and, at long last, around 10:30, we arrived at our final destination, Harpswell, Maine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFi_k04sQrrRVU6fTF5Pj1fnQLRpzFFQQU_yqFjO2OkmnVf_JUKIJCoilbtXp8ChZKbEsfrtgXCqBWAzIEY_jHKni1t1E3G4mj0-TgJPBM1F_gpDNk5hgO5O5swGmtfR_iISZJUkIiYQ3/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFi_k04sQrrRVU6fTF5Pj1fnQLRpzFFQQU_yqFjO2OkmnVf_JUKIJCoilbtXp8ChZKbEsfrtgXCqBWAzIEY_jHKni1t1E3G4mj0-TgJPBM1F_gpDNk5hgO5O5swGmtfR_iISZJUkIiYQ3/s400/IMG_1179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today Todd promised me we aren't driving anywhere at all. In fact, we're staying here an entire week. I went swimming in the salt water this morning and have already romped around the yard a lot. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's funny to take a vacation after a monthlong vacation, but road trips are kind of a lot of work and we are all exhausted and ready for relaxation. We're thinking of this as a transitional week to help us readjust to normal life without being too disappointed that our big adventure had ended. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-56580600437311081862016-07-31T12:54:00.000-04:002016-07-31T12:54:15.189-04:00The Long Ride Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhFHlfKfPJrPvKgSTvv8X2KGQAMDTYGteWR7hXsC3LH8oXleCijlMMaXEeNHMxwwD01vr8ocl56xz3jnXNbs6iTaP71CNAcGkMcTjxa1SceRNWmtm-SecKbhX-gkIdmT6OnPspoV3a-6Q/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhFHlfKfPJrPvKgSTvv8X2KGQAMDTYGteWR7hXsC3LH8oXleCijlMMaXEeNHMxwwD01vr8ocl56xz3jnXNbs6iTaP71CNAcGkMcTjxa1SceRNWmtm-SecKbhX-gkIdmT6OnPspoV3a-6Q/s400/IMG_3398.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After the hot springs, we drove through Butte where Diane and Todd decided to eat a delicious lunch from Burger King. When they told the cashier they were from Massachusetts and were just driving through, she came outside to point out some Butte landmarks for us. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Butte is a mining town surrounded by tall hills. On top of one hill is a massive statue of Mary that's bigger than the statue of a liberty. That was one landmark she told us about. The other was these scaffolds on the far hills that used to the way miners got down into the mines. Now they're being preserved and used for cultural activities like concerts, which is pretty neat. That was a whole tour of Butte because we'd sort of wasted a lot of time already (we hadn't exactly gotten an early start in Missoula) and we had a loooooong way to drive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the afternoon, Diane took over driving so Todd could rest for the night shift. As she drove, a weather alert came on the radio stating that a large thunderstorm with golf-ball sized hail was moving Southeast towards Billings. We were heading due east towards Billings at that very moment. Diane had actually seen the thundercloud in the distance a while before hearing the alert, but she knew from our experiences in Wyoming that it was far, far away. She definitely did not want to drive into golf-ball sized hail that can break windshields and would probably be the end of our solar panels so she walkie-talkied Todd and asked him to check the radar to see if we should stop and wait out the weather.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After some deliberation, he decided that it looked like if we just kept going at our slow and steady pace, we'd probably miss it. Nervously, Diane drove on. The picture above is one she took later, after Todd took over the driving in Billings, and as you can see, we were still driving towards one heck of a big thunderhead. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We had decided not to stay on I90 through South Dakota, opting instead of I94 through North Dakota, for the sake of variety and also because it seemed there would be a lot more stuff in North Dakota so we'd have better options for our pitstops.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We drove and drove for hours always with that cloud out ahead of us until around sunset. The highway had begun to track northeast and the storm had moved off to our right. We stopped at a rest area for a stretch and got the most incredible glimpse of the storm cloud reflecting the sunset. It was as if the clouds were on fire.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog1gjtYpPIcmX4wYSybxzOxo2kuEZdn6AAVZmNic7FB_bFaomQxt_kyze73eRWP4q_ctigs2cJRB2zZOOYNvorP6kYeu4DflkV5nF0YcNBxNamj1O5xaNeaItNzk4lHCH-PBuNn8Pdr6l/s1600/IMG_3579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog1gjtYpPIcmX4wYSybxzOxo2kuEZdn6AAVZmNic7FB_bFaomQxt_kyze73eRWP4q_ctigs2cJRB2zZOOYNvorP6kYeu4DflkV5nF0YcNBxNamj1O5xaNeaItNzk4lHCH-PBuNn8Pdr6l/s400/IMG_3579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we drove, the view of the clouds only got better and better until finally Todd couldn't stand it and pulled over to the side of the road to take a picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpE8qoE_VqXCy8QvxgnDbTONPzy4i2k5Gu3ZnJ1EBR60xHcWzXVtN5CulM_VBakxFhrE9L1UgclxL7k4yHCc9A7mcfes1Zr5CKS5ZB6Dtp8AndhVvyrMrEOTqQkNyphLY3QXvXmVwHMRu/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpE8qoE_VqXCy8QvxgnDbTONPzy4i2k5Gu3ZnJ1EBR60xHcWzXVtN5CulM_VBakxFhrE9L1UgclxL7k4yHCc9A7mcfes1Zr5CKS5ZB6Dtp8AndhVvyrMrEOTqQkNyphLY3QXvXmVwHMRu/s640/IMG_1032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
This picture is one Diane took from inside the Big Rolling Crate while Todd took his real camera outside. When Todd came back to the window, he held out his hand to Diane and it took her a minute to understand why he was holding up ice cubes. Hail! Golf ball sized hail that had fallen here before we drove through. Due to our general slowness and several stops, we'd missed it, thank goodness.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the sunset until midnight, we watched a spectacular display on both sides of us as we drove: There were thunderstorms out there on both sides lighting up the night sky for hours. Amazingly we only experienced the slightest bit of rain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We arrived in Beach, North Dakota, the first town across the border, at 11:45, pulled into a truck stop, fell asleep for the night. We'd traveled 601 miles for the day, making it our single biggest one-day mileage of the trip, but we knew we needed to go even more miles next few days, so we all needed our rest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-42687780337653432092016-07-31T12:40:00.000-04:002016-07-31T12:40:19.218-04:00Travelogue -- Half a Day in Missoula<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1eOUFGYWCRkVW4vAfrab1D1PmOSmF5rwytZ7AksK3pX4bj7LPn1OmZPOCpzdLjJAp36JsFO1N_5KbcCYbQIgqteFhpk3TH2Lcp0lGZb79yfnWNG_YQD65VrJnla47fLQ03lpxMyZeTAl/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1eOUFGYWCRkVW4vAfrab1D1PmOSmF5rwytZ7AksK3pX4bj7LPn1OmZPOCpzdLjJAp36JsFO1N_5KbcCYbQIgqteFhpk3TH2Lcp0lGZb79yfnWNG_YQD65VrJnla47fLQ03lpxMyZeTAl/s320/IMG_1007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
After our big breakdown in Idaho and two days stranded at a slightly crumby hotel outside of Coeur D'Alene, we got on the road on Tuesday, July 26 around 11:00. Although we knew the clock was ticking and we had, oh, 2874 miles to go to get to Maine by Saturday as planned, we had to make one more stop first in Missoula, MT to visit Diane's college roommate Jeanne.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Way back at the beginning of our trip when we thought we were going to take I90 all the way to Seattle and then putter our way back East, we had planned to see Jeanne just after the fourth of July, but then we decided to go south to Colorado and save Montana for last before our big push for home.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In retrospect, saving Montana for last was probably not the best idea because</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A. Montana is beautiful</div>
<div>
B. There are tons of fun things to do in Montana</div>
<div>
C. It was a bummer to have to rush through such a ridiculously gigantic state.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But things happened the way they did and we finally arrived in Missoula around 4:00 after a harrowing drive through a long, uphill construction zone that gave the Big Rolling Crate's radiator a real test. Thankfully we didn't overheat and after the mountains of Idaho, it was downhill to Missoula. As we drove Todd shocked, stunned, and stupefied Diane by saying that he thought we should stay the night at Jeanne's. Jeanne had offered to have us stay, but Diane had assumed we needed to cover more miles, after all, Missoula is only 160 or so miles from Coeur D'Alene. We hadn't stayed over with anyone else we visited, so this was wholly unexpected, but Diane was glad because she hadn't seen Jeanne in 13 years!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jeanne and her daughter Helen greeted us with food and drinks and a dozen ideas of how we could pass a fun afternoon. We could ride bikes! We could take a hike! We could go climbing! We could go to a brewery! Helen, at the wise old age of 3, chimed in, "Brewery!" So that's what they decided to do. Because I'm a dog, I can't go to breweries, so I had to wait at Jeanne's. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Todd said it would be no trouble to take the bikes off the Big Rolling Crate, an assertion you surely recognize by now as a lie because putting the bikes back on the Big Rolling Crate is a miserable ordeal that involves much cursing, sweat, blood, and maybe even tears, but he really, really wanted one more bike ride before the end of our Todyssey. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jeanne and her co-pilot Helen lead the way on a tour of the University of Montana and over a rail trail bridge over the Clark Fork, where Todd could not resist the temptation to take a really quick swim, and finally to the Dram Shop, a nice bar where Helen could get a delicious root beer and hang out in the play area while the grownups had beer. Diane and Todd had never before heard of a bar with a play area. You'll never see that in old Massachusetts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When they came back to the house after their bike ride, Jeanne's husband Matt was home and he had the grill fired up for steak. Jeanne has a beautiful fenced in back yard so I got to hang out and relax in the cool evening air. I also got to have some steak.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have to say, there are not a lot of people I can really relax around, but I liked Jeanne a lot. I even let her pet me a little. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We didn't take a lot of pictures in Missoula because we were too busy visiting, so you'll just have to use your imagination to visualize all the fun we had. After dinner, we all got a good night's sleep, and good thing, too, because the next few days were going to prove exhausting.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On Wednesday morning, Todd fought with the bikes until they were securely strapped to the back of the Big Rolling Crate and we left Missoula with a promise to come back and visit again when we have time to stay a while.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The scenery was beautiful as we drove but we didn't stop to take pictures because we had over 2700 miles to go. We had a goal in the mind for the day: We needed to cross the border into North Dakota, because as Jeanne said, once you get out of Montana, you're a quarter of the way back to Massachusetts. Here's a picture Diane took as we rumbled down the highway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUWYwuIr4lkL5hJQS0FfwU7dBcEDU3bV3dAjhao4BWXQcpSK207ZnwnX2zoULOF1EGvCR9AgFR8bObQsBbfyXb0isWVvzxyZIyYoq4t4sesjyG4pfhcyq-y1-O86zcZz_Iwg33T3XAtMC/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUWYwuIr4lkL5hJQS0FfwU7dBcEDU3bV3dAjhao4BWXQcpSK207ZnwnX2zoULOF1EGvCR9AgFR8bObQsBbfyXb0isWVvzxyZIyYoq4t4sesjyG4pfhcyq-y1-O86zcZz_Iwg33T3XAtMC/s320/IMG_0642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
About an hour from Missoula, we began seeing signs for Fairmont Springs Resort that advertised hot springs pools. Hot springs were something Diane and Todd both wished they'd had more of back in Idaho, so they decided to stop. After all, Todd said, we can still have some fun. Once again, I couldn't go with them, a fact I found extremely depressing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unlike the hot spring they went to in Boise National Forest, which was an undeveloped hot spring, Fairmont Springs are a developed area, which means the natural hot springs water directed into giant swimming pools. There's a big indoor pool and a big outdoor pool, each of which is around 95 degrees. The water constantly flows in and out and is minimally treated with chlorine. There are also indoor and outdoor hot tubs, in which the water is about 105 degrees. At the outdoor pool there was even a huge waterslide that was fed with hot springs water! Todd rode it a lot of times. He's pretty sure he was the oldest person in line, expect maybe one or two dads riding down with little kids. But isn't this trip all about being young at heart? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWOhu8tt1RHN4Yy0BHFbYTt6xuQF8IMyi4xTbMIQ7acYGpXiNaKrt_ULfB5lk-LK-yuafLfGARqmpjgG4at6rbN89Wwuc29FBXzcPFpHt9wc66KOVvkbGICbd0Uwc1vslKk_bAbdWbHKX/s1600/IMG_4862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWOhu8tt1RHN4Yy0BHFbYTt6xuQF8IMyi4xTbMIQ7acYGpXiNaKrt_ULfB5lk-LK-yuafLfGARqmpjgG4at6rbN89Wwuc29FBXzcPFpHt9wc66KOVvkbGICbd0Uwc1vslKk_bAbdWbHKX/s320/IMG_4862.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-21856535692879846272016-07-25T23:00:00.001-04:002016-07-25T23:00:01.550-04:00That time we broke down in Idaho<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9SYR_QkidcXp3AqqLBo_nHXMfV85VzR3I7Zy2RksWM8WOeKSezmJz0zqbN9-aads4A1XC_WFU1N52evzqcnI4P_qGCrmRz_M86SY_RX4PZKq16rrQhx3vCRdv9mdNm52tYyAcSu9HwII/s640/blogger-image--1563249721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9SYR_QkidcXp3AqqLBo_nHXMfV85VzR3I7Zy2RksWM8WOeKSezmJz0zqbN9-aads4A1XC_WFU1N52evzqcnI4P_qGCrmRz_M86SY_RX4PZKq16rrQhx3vCRdv9mdNm52tYyAcSu9HwII/s640/blogger-image--1563249721.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Turns out there was no reason to rush in Coeur D'Alene. We were only a few miles down the highway when the Big Rolling Crate decided it was time to take a break. It happened like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday morning, we had noticed that the truck was making some new and usual noises. It sounded like a cat was stuck under the hood. Todd and Diane both noticed it but decided (stupidly, it turns out) to ignore it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday afternoon, when we got on I-90 East towards Missoula, we'd been on the road a matter of minutes when Todd understood something was wrong. It seemed he had lost power steering. At first he thought he'd just drive to Missoula (about 150 miles) and get it looked at there because power steering is nice but not essential. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thankfully, though, there was a very large "chain up area" on the side of the road where trucks can stop to put on chains in the winter so he pulled over. When he did, he discovered he also had no power brakes. At that moment, he realized the tack was also not working, so he figured it was the serpentine belt. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This was just before 2:00 in the afternoon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We rolled to a stop, he turned off the truck, and popped the hood, at which point we all heard a strange bubbling noise. The truck had overheated because the belt runs and the fan. Coolant was boiling out of the radiator. The situation was clearly not looking good.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Diane said, "Should I call AAA?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And Todd said, "Shhhh, let me think."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The belt that had broken was a replacement Todd had put on before we left, and it hadn't been without its problems. It had jumped off the pulleys once before, although nothing like this where it was literally shredded and wound around the fan. When Todd put it on back home, he'd actually kept the old belt, so he decided the first step should be try to put that one back on. He got out his wrenches and the old belt and carefully (because everything under the hot was blazing hot) set about snaking it around and setting it. He planned to get that on, add a pint of water to the radiator, get more coolant at the next stop, and hope that was the end of the trouble.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">He got the belt in place and turned on the truck. Instead of the usual rumble it sort of chortled, a plume of black smoke came out, and the old belt snapped in half. The problem, it turns out, was not the belt but the tensioner pulley. Diagnosis complete and time to call a tow truck because there was no fixing it ourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Diane called AAA and after answering a ton of questions learned that AAA doesn't cover ambulances. Fat lot of good that membership is doing us. As we sat there, Diane also noted that this was the first time in her life that she'd been in a vehicle that broke down to the point of needing a tow truck. She recalls being a very little girl in her mother's station wagon, or maybe it was a minivan, and having it stall out or something on I-81 in Dunmore, PA and her mother praying that the tractor trailers coming up the highway wouldn't hit them, and instead a tractor trailer came up behind them, stopped traffic, and helped her mom get the car off the road. That event may have ended with a tow truck, but if it did, Diane can't remember it, so at the very least, this was the first time in her memory that she was in a vehicle in need of a tow. She has also never been in a car that ran out of gas, and she hopes she doesn't have to experience that on this road trip.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Todd googled towing companies and found one called Superior Towing who claimed to be able to move trucks no matter how heavy. The person we talked to said it would cost about $250 and his last truck just went out on a "winch out" job, so it would be 1.5 to 2 hours. What choice did we have? We had to wait and we had to pay. So that's what we did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It was the hottest time of the day and getting uncomfortably warm in the Big Rolling Crate, so Todd put one of the sun deflectors over the front and opened up all the windows. He took me out for a little stroll along the highway and Diane made calls to a hotel and a local Chevy dealer. Diane and Todd started packing things up for a hotel and around 3:00, the tow truck arrived! He was early! They didn't need him on the winch job after all. We said a few prayers of gratitude and stood back to watch him prepare the Big Rolling Crate for towing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTeojOaYjgwDL5cLL4LF6lCBtvFgy3ZHE89RblXlkoiilhQD6F-CLj6vKo9dxkAyPy2UFShXYdcgqNKVIH-0Kbpjl8RawVs_oh1DF7sNZmga95GNm3z2gBWSVl95pNEPCKfZW3AuJvAZV/s640/blogger-image-2087676066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTeojOaYjgwDL5cLL4LF6lCBtvFgy3ZHE89RblXlkoiilhQD6F-CLj6vKo9dxkAyPy2UFShXYdcgqNKVIH-0Kbpjl8RawVs_oh1DF7sNZmga95GNm3z2gBWSVl95pNEPCKfZW3AuJvAZV/s640/blogger-image-2087676066.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This guy was a true pro and as nice as can be. If you ever need a tow in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, call Superior. They get the job done. I had to ride in the Big Rolling Crate while it was towed, while Todd and Diane rode in the tow truck. It was a little scary, but the ride wasn't too long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the end, it cost less than $190, which was a pleasant surprise for Diane, since she'd told Todd she'd pay for the tow, whatever it cost.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Chevy dealer had the tow truck park the Big Rolling Crate around back and we left the keys for the service department for the morning. A really nice salesperson named Mark offered us water and asked how we were getting to our hotel. At that point, we honestly had no idea. As far as we know, there are no Ubers in Coeur D'Aene and even if there were, Ubers and other cabs aren't big on dogs. Mark offered to give us a lift, so just before five o'clock, we piled our stuff into the back of his pickup truck and he took us the 4.5 miles to our hotel. People in Idaho are so nice, you wouldn't even believe it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This hotel in Post Falls, ID is the cheapest we've stayed at, and, not surprisingly, the least nice, but it's good enough for me. Once we checked in on Sunday, Diane and Todd walked across the street to a truck stop and got subs from Subway. Todd had turkey and Diane had an Italian BMT and I got to have a little of each. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's a pool, which obviously I can't go in, but Diane and Todd went last night and today, too. They thought there was a hot tub, but there isn't. The pool is indoors, though, and so thoroughly heated that it's like a giant bathtub, so good enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's free wifi (hence the flurry of blog posts) and free coffee and a complimentary breakfast that's not half bad. I had some of Todd's scrambled eggs and some of Diane's English muffin with peanut butter and found them both satisfactory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane woke up at 7 and called the Chevy dealer right away to explain our predicament and see if we should book the hotel for another night. The nice technician said he'd call back ASAP. Around 10 AM he gave the bad news that we should book another night in the hotel, and he sent a shuttle to take Diane over there and get a courtesy car, so now we've got a brand new silver Malibu with a moon roof and leather seats, but Diane and Todd haven't let me ride in it because I make a mess out of cars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmsSzYAcH6mJ-lfvliVx65072BRhXizIUS5hHWnZAdE29zAt-ZsyO5Dc1TXDGETyIuU1NM9VZ_faKQ7j3UMkf5_aR2FQadCNpRRStaD6KXCMmIKJiplxO0P1hfDrjx9SUKREksKQ7qrhI/s640/blogger-image-80935032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmsSzYAcH6mJ-lfvliVx65072BRhXizIUS5hHWnZAdE29zAt-ZsyO5Dc1TXDGETyIuU1NM9VZ_faKQ7j3UMkf5_aR2FQadCNpRRStaD6KXCMmIKJiplxO0P1hfDrjx9SUKREksKQ7qrhI/s640/blogger-image-80935032.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane and Todd took the car for a spin into Coeur D'Alene this afternoon and had lunch at a place called Crafted. The leftovers were the best ones yet. Sweet potato fries and a chicken Parmesan sandwich! Yum! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCW6ugZ8N29td7-o2kgqbGoncztQnfTgjwkjemWxqV28BJkAJ_odwHyiH-eYz2gzTcZIShtmzJIG8Seoh4xGxtsCXorM1xoEEhr8CNHpmYpPTDF0wCPEqU24_60pbh2rEqmkpLLA4Mf8i/s640/blogger-image--474789120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCW6ugZ8N29td7-o2kgqbGoncztQnfTgjwkjemWxqV28BJkAJ_odwHyiH-eYz2gzTcZIShtmzJIG8Seoh4xGxtsCXorM1xoEEhr8CNHpmYpPTDF0wCPEqU24_60pbh2rEqmkpLLA4Mf8i/s640/blogger-image--474789120.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The heatwave has reached Northern Idaho, so they didn't do much else but eat and come back, and I was glad, because hotels make me nervous. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This evening we got word from the Chevy dealer that the Big Rolling Crate will be ready by mid morning tomorrow and we'll be back on the road. Next stop Missoula, and we mean it this time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After all, we're supposed to be in Maine on Saturday... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This might be the last update until we get back to the East Coast, but don't worry, I'll let you know how everything turns out once we get there. It's just I've learned that when we're covering a lot of miles in a short amount of days there's no time for blogging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wish us safe travels and no more road mishaps! We've had enough of that.</div><br></div> </span></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-48650433680504079362016-07-25T22:19:00.001-04:002016-07-25T22:19:33.499-04:00Travelogue -- Coeur D'Alene<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLF1T7sZfhphLpGwtBqtDNem_JBUnT5sOy3lSObdQ45nZHqiuSVsuXe7k0kY_n16O4rfCI5PuJhKpqSD7a6ylHA8NR7dhYztA8aK-fACs6BXqBuq1AidG8L1OhNZpEIEQ3h_-KPekON3j/s640/blogger-image--1961221432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLF1T7sZfhphLpGwtBqtDNem_JBUnT5sOy3lSObdQ45nZHqiuSVsuXe7k0kY_n16O4rfCI5PuJhKpqSD7a6ylHA8NR7dhYztA8aK-fACs6BXqBuq1AidG8L1OhNZpEIEQ3h_-KPekON3j/s640/blogger-image--1961221432.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By now it'll be no surprise to know that I went swimming in Coeur D'Alene because I have been swimming in every body of water that wasn't full of algae and bacteria since our road trip began. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Coeur D'Alene is quite close to Spokane, so we arrived Sunday morning and found a great parking space for the Big Rolling Crate right near the big park downtown on the lake. Coeur D'Alene is awesome! We walked on these paths on Tubbs Hill that went along the lake with big cliffs where kids were jumping into the water and beaches where people were swimming and sunbathing. Everyone was so nice and friendly and fit-looking. The only downside was how many dogs there were. After my swim, I had to go back to the Big Rolling Crate and chill out so Diane and Todd could swim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cdAoRz4NSU2ejViDePwWdxWoR7ZNrKHDHUzUww91ibMCVAHspsOabmpKxMFIAuLUMlrUZ3DtM5vNOd2FI-_ZUjibGRS7A8zQ5z1zqXnpEER8jTvXCL1yTSe2L15HNEgkTfNtd82R2bKN/s640/blogger-image-1067293075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cdAoRz4NSU2ejViDePwWdxWoR7ZNrKHDHUzUww91ibMCVAHspsOabmpKxMFIAuLUMlrUZ3DtM5vNOd2FI-_ZUjibGRS7A8zQ5z1zqXnpEER8jTvXCL1yTSe2L15HNEgkTfNtd82R2bKN/s640/blogger-image-1067293075.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd jumped off cliffs, but Diane thought that was too scary, so she just observed. I was glad she was there to protect him, since I was being prevented from doing my job by my fear of other dogs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We only had about two hours to spend in Coeur D'Alene because we were going to Missoula to see Diane's college roommate, so we didn't do anything else, but all of us agreed: We could have spent a full and happy vacation in this fabulous lakeside town.</div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-76853315088814329362016-07-25T22:11:00.001-04:002016-07-25T22:11:26.873-04:00Travelogue -- Hiking in Washington State<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F3fw2DTQCumC385H1U8SBG69K_TOunpelqQXDvrEZqCSjdiB1gHSNs4rNTsEeJvOEyQrK55KdYw1kbCFz-mUJBuxQaH3KNzGVTyXQuEY03KAJRnsefC3KIWOO0QtKeSqP0n4iam1-WbW/s640/blogger-image--246946412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F3fw2DTQCumC385H1U8SBG69K_TOunpelqQXDvrEZqCSjdiB1gHSNs4rNTsEeJvOEyQrK55KdYw1kbCFz-mUJBuxQaH3KNzGVTyXQuEY03KAJRnsefC3KIWOO0QtKeSqP0n4iam1-WbW/s640/blogger-image--246946412.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>On Saturday, July 23, our return East officially (and slowly) began. Weeks ago, we'd set July 23 as our turnaround day, although we also thought we'd be in Montana, so it's fair to see we were already behind schedule by being in Aberdeen, WA. We hadn't gotten the best night's sleep in Walmart, and we were all a little cranky and distracted. <div><br></div><div>Todd had driven five miles or so when he noticed something was wrong with the tack, and Diane said, "Uh, this might be a dumb question, but you did switch back over to the main batteries, right?"</div><div><br></div><div>And Todd said, "Shit," and pulled over.</div><div><br></div><div>You see the Big Rolling Crate has two sets of batteries: The main batteries that crank the truck and the auxiliary batteries that provide power to the cabin. The auxiliary batteries can be used in lots of cool ways. They recharge either via solar panels on the roof or by plugging in at a camper like an RV and they provide power via some USB outlets and an inverter. So far we've had far more electricity than we've needed. We could have had a TV or a small fridge with all the juice we've got. </div><div><br></div><div>But the one thing we're never supposed to do is start the truck on the auxiliary batteries. Never, ever, ever. There's a switch that you can flip to shut off the main batteries, and if you do that and you try to start the engine, it will crank on the auxiliaries, and that's what happened. </div><div><br></div><div>The good news was the truck actually did start and no harm seems to have come to the auxiliary batteries. Todd flipped the switch, restarted us on the main batteries, and we continued on.</div><div><br></div><div>We decided to skip Seattle because A. There's no such thing as a quick trip to a major city, B. There's be lots of traffic, which is no fun in a car, let alone a 10,000 lb ambulance, and C. We'd already decided we aren't really doing cities on this trip. So we took a road that allowed us to bypass the major city traffic, and as soon as we did, Todd began to feel regret.</div><div><br></div><div>We'd come so far! Seattle looked so cool on a map! We were missing it! </div><div><br></div><div>So we got off the highway and deliberated. Diane took over driving and offered to drive us back--it was only 40 miles--but Todd wasn't sure what to do. Eventually he concluded it was too late and made up his mind to pout and be sad that we were neither going to Seattle nor Mount Rainier, since there was no easy drives to Rainier and no easy hikes there anyway, and we just didn't have time.</div><div><br></div><div>The weather was so overcast that even though we were right near Rainier, we never even saw it. At least when we were driving into Oregon we saw Mount Hood and had nice views of it, but Rainier makes its own weather (as all big mountains seem to do), so we didn't even get a look at it.</div><div><br></div><div>While Diane drove, Todd did research and found a state park right off the highway with a trail to a waterfall, and everyone agreed I needed a good walk, so we stopped, but the experience was frustrating from the start. </div><div><br></div><div>The park was called Ollalie State Park, and we were planning to hike the Twin Falls Trail. We had to pay a day-use fee of $10, and the only way we could make ten and not overpay was by paying with quarters and dimes. Diane filled out the envelope and tried to put it in the self-service box, but with all those quarters and dimes, it wouldn't fit in the slot no matter what she did. Finally she gave up, set the envelope, money and all, back with the unused envelopes and a note that said, "Make the slot big enough for change," and hoped no one stole our fee and got us in trouble, because we really did pay.</div><div><br></div><div>Todd read some info about the trail and learned the waterfall got 5-stars so we were excited. The trail review also said not to bother going up above the bridge because the trail up there wasn't interesting and there was too much highway noise. That was fine with us because as we understood it, to go to the bridge would be a 1.2 mile hike, so round trip it would be nearly 2.5 miles, plenty on a warm, humid day, especially because it was a pretty steep path.</div><div><br></div><div>We followed the trail markers from our parking area and quickly realized we were on the wrong end of the path. In fact we had to do the boring parts to get to the good parts, and our hike would end up being more like 4 miles round trip. Oops.</div><div><br></div><div>The other problem was that trail was pretty crowded. We expected it to be a lot like the waterfall hike we did in Oregon, where there were other people, but not too many, but this was much more full of people, which was hard on me because I get so nervous, and then you add in other dogs, and oh boy. It was rough. I had to be carried a few times, which is terribly shaming.</div><div><br></div><div>The waterfalls were very cool, but because most people had come up the easy way, it was mobbed full of people and I was really very scared. Nonetheless we went on to the bottom of the falls, and I was so happy to get to swim. I was hot and thirsty from all that straining against my leash.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMenq5SqFJODXOeGKnIblcHSdo6z2pK8Zj-0vKqXfVBVnmPVoy9ae4DIFuuibiNJMKSmLScFE_zUSHRHqlVhUZlnTfWBnIRHxv0Ggpnq5oZbD1iwbXMLPeEnCpkmudAxUgzcoUhyphenhyphennzKV5/s640/blogger-image--177294737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMenq5SqFJODXOeGKnIblcHSdo6z2pK8Zj-0vKqXfVBVnmPVoy9ae4DIFuuibiNJMKSmLScFE_zUSHRHqlVhUZlnTfWBnIRHxv0Ggpnq5oZbD1iwbXMLPeEnCpkmudAxUgzcoUhyphenhyphennzKV5/s640/blogger-image--177294737.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSAQKvg5P-846gA_6ZASJe40ZAZW2r4XF1gIv0hdAsrSXKtLNtQjJRYs7NZTjPF4LSwqe_FDJ8geI8uD81qGd44OGnBtvQ974iRjHuCxdHobvIP0hp5FjfF1xtmrw0EsemXRH_3gVj7ob/s640/blogger-image-1172867048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSAQKvg5P-846gA_6ZASJe40ZAZW2r4XF1gIv0hdAsrSXKtLNtQjJRYs7NZTjPF4LSwqe_FDJ8geI8uD81qGd44OGnBtvQ974iRjHuCxdHobvIP0hp5FjfF1xtmrw0EsemXRH_3gVj7ob/s640/blogger-image-1172867048.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd took a lot of pictures and then we made our way back up and out of the waterfall area and up the long boring stupid trail we hadn't meant to take to get back to our car. Along the path were tons of berries which Diane discovered to be salmonberries. Todd and Diane tried them and found them to be weird, like big, soft, tart raspberries. There were also very pretty wild flowers and great big trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0i5pTFp6LTWmT8qD3hQSMFhtx78bZW2f1D-DAu2_MIa0mHViBx7Xv_CAtkkQJc3wC76jA5lY2AKrzS-SkGp6skcCGxnYrY5mIVpMcUgkRbpRgElpBNKwYr_My0FTu7kPQFbOAr2jNjHcR/s640/blogger-image-1587176552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0i5pTFp6LTWmT8qD3hQSMFhtx78bZW2f1D-DAu2_MIa0mHViBx7Xv_CAtkkQJc3wC76jA5lY2AKrzS-SkGp6skcCGxnYrY5mIVpMcUgkRbpRgElpBNKwYr_My0FTu7kPQFbOAr2jNjHcR/s640/blogger-image-1587176552.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp44PwbndBQI9HtDDSCgDu9_HBQz_tC8PfiAMn8EuT894NltF8-Nykf7CwgPQdGY31ZdenQpd7YN4con03-SfmASyEGD4fWOCoNH32eNgbrzvcmc7bQbKuarj4HXEURuW4xQkN7dkHdYm/s640/blogger-image--1187671064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp44PwbndBQI9HtDDSCgDu9_HBQz_tC8PfiAMn8EuT894NltF8-Nykf7CwgPQdGY31ZdenQpd7YN4con03-SfmASyEGD4fWOCoNH32eNgbrzvcmc7bQbKuarj4HXEURuW4xQkN7dkHdYm/s640/blogger-image--1187671064.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our hike, we were all very hot and sweaty and hungry. None of us had eaten much. Todd decided we'd find somewhere nearby to eat and we got back on the road. Right away the highway began climbing through a mountain pass and the Big Rolling Crate rapidly came up to a temp of 210, which is our pull-over temp, so we got off the highway again and discovered we were near a ski area in a place called Snoqualmie Pass. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There was a road that paralleled the highway with some restaurants, so we took that road and came to a place called Iron Horse State Park, which is basically a rail trail. The area where we stopped included Snoqualmie Tunnel, which was only .4 miles down the trail, and Todd really wanted to go see it because he thinks it's good to do things that scare you sometimes. Even though we were hot and tired, Diane and I went along.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN2kp9BNhDYIW_ZpWwdp7Fwbek_mVahVqtuMk3TDmni53t5eEna6XTB4-ha57d799ATNb0Jy2-DxJ-fJQ0rp1c6hNInAo681L-p5m3kC4gye7RRbqNGmykkfuMBqVdLEuyxYYAWaaplSO/s640/blogger-image--926498131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN2kp9BNhDYIW_ZpWwdp7Fwbek_mVahVqtuMk3TDmni53t5eEna6XTB4-ha57d799ATNb0Jy2-DxJ-fJQ0rp1c6hNInAo681L-p5m3kC4gye7RRbqNGmykkfuMBqVdLEuyxYYAWaaplSO/s640/blogger-image--926498131.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The tunnel is really long. We aren't sure how long exactly, but if the scale on the trail map sign is to be believed, more than a quarter mile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuqW8lKM28jDKo10UQR_RQdHtVCqMd6dEsM34UhulWZWdDoLDJkJgJe3hUu9q28tth8Fxz4p6uUcMK1wZpwGi6EC3ipcx0Yp1Yrcjaq_A4UQIfDDaOQLcPlc7f3ykavnH74DK5m96UKbS/s640/blogger-image-1728767135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuqW8lKM28jDKo10UQR_RQdHtVCqMd6dEsM34UhulWZWdDoLDJkJgJe3hUu9q28tth8Fxz4p6uUcMK1wZpwGi6EC3ipcx0Yp1Yrcjaq_A4UQIfDDaOQLcPlc7f3ykavnH74DK5m96UKbS/s640/blogger-image-1728767135.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A cold, musty air blows out of the tunnel and a sort of mist hangs in front of it. The tunnel isn't lit and it is very dark and frosty inside. We have headlamps but hadn't thought to bring them, but we walked in anyway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9X8MOx8L9R-kj10RdyN-DeQoOeKyFM1srxsnp5qt8YhnYQ8MffTKrShE9BxGbQKhAMEarONpZ6mw_2LyDTbxF_TJetoHaDeGQPf8fcPoQRRuxA6uWfNrEU8AJCLCvF-ZZuxgvot-WPF0/s640/blogger-image--461617885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9X8MOx8L9R-kj10RdyN-DeQoOeKyFM1srxsnp5qt8YhnYQ8MffTKrShE9BxGbQKhAMEarONpZ6mw_2LyDTbxF_TJetoHaDeGQPf8fcPoQRRuxA6uWfNrEU8AJCLCvF-ZZuxgvot-WPF0/s640/blogger-image--461617885.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It didn't take long before the dark made Diane very creeped out, and she told Todd he could go as far as he wanted, but she was getting out of there. Obviously I had to stay with Todd as it is my sworn duty to protect him from all dangers, real and imagined, but I wanted to turn back, too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd and I only went a little ways further before we turned around and I was relieved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before we left the state park, Diane stopped at the ladies room and got a happy surprise: There were coin-op showers! Diane and Todd were starting to smell a little funky from our beach day yesterday and sweaty hike that afternoon, so they were excited for a nice hot shower. They'd planned to go to a truck stop, but there we were at a very clean state park, so they took the opportunity that had presented itself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we finally got back on the road, it was all downhill driving and the Big Rolling Crate was thankful. We were all starving, so we stopped at the first town where there were food signs, a little place called Cle Elum. Diane finally got what she'd been craving since Boulder: Mexican Food.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Hi_GstSTz4lCXs_me1g1K_FKpbPu5ww5f-vZ2c-pk_Q95pTxCb8ycEtNQkeNI7eM2pYCxgwum5UIul58CcGpktZv-S-tWMLcyKWn4gAGIerciX8WLG6xUYhrGKNTTmwv47sbQOge8jX7/s640/blogger-image--156903311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Hi_GstSTz4lCXs_me1g1K_FKpbPu5ww5f-vZ2c-pk_Q95pTxCb8ycEtNQkeNI7eM2pYCxgwum5UIul58CcGpktZv-S-tWMLcyKWn4gAGIerciX8WLG6xUYhrGKNTTmwv47sbQOge8jX7/s640/blogger-image--156903311.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I never knew how yummy taco meat and enchilada fillings were until that night, but let me tell you, they are pretty darn good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After dinner, Todd was sleepy so Diane drove and he dozed in the back with me while Diane drove us almost all the way to Spokane. She stopped in Ritzville about 40 miles or so from Spokane because we were almost out of gas, and she confessed that she had been pretty nervous that there wouldn't be anything in Ritzville and we'd run out of diesel altogether because the last hundred miles had been as desolate as can be. Todd and I slept through all those boring miles, but we were pretty glad she hadn't run us out of fuel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd drove us the last few miles to Spokane and another Walmart, which we would call home for the night. As we drove, the moon rose yellow and startling over the Spokane airport. It was beautiful. When we got there, Diane got another thing she'd been craving since Boulder: A delicious vanilla milkshake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In case you are unaware, Carl's Jr makes amazing milkshakes. I know, because I shared Diane's, and I could have eaten the whole thing myself if she'd let me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now you may be wondering why Diane had to wait weeks for a simple vanilla milkshake. That's a great question. I mean, you can get a vanilla milkshake at every McDonald's. But Diane didn't want a McDonald's milkshake. She wanted a real one. In Lander, she could have had one, but she was too full of burger. She did get one at another place in Wyoming and when she took a sip it was so disgusting she refused to drink it. It was like they'd dumped extra sugar in or it was made out of mostly cool whip. Anyway, when she saw that Carl's Jr makes real milkshakes, she didn't care that she was full of Mexican food, and as far as I can tell, she still has no regrets about that decision.</div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-15374246115725356232016-07-25T12:50:00.001-04:002016-07-25T12:50:52.419-04:00Travelogue -- The Washington Coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkOJDbmnrVgixNN_HxvNbLTvM8U4ZdS4Ch2zOFBijYjVkmJ5eWfZol9aOPIWYwmY1AtqZV8ZaP2hyphenhyphenXFhpZW_QttbECJHQReoQzhSE20X5hE0x-xbHAevhi2ayUKbUR4qlNoAEHZ2ydN7G/s640/blogger-image-2035515092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkOJDbmnrVgixNN_HxvNbLTvM8U4ZdS4Ch2zOFBijYjVkmJ5eWfZol9aOPIWYwmY1AtqZV8ZaP2hyphenhyphenXFhpZW_QttbECJHQReoQzhSE20X5hE0x-xbHAevhi2ayUKbUR4qlNoAEHZ2ydN7G/s640/blogger-image-2035515092.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our romp in the ocean at Seaside, OR, we headed north towards Astoria because back in Idaho several people had told us it was really nice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Astoria sits on the mouth of the Columbia River. On the other side of the river is Washington State. Astoria's claim to pop culture fame is that it is where Goonies was filmed. Todd and I have never seen Goonies, though, so that doesn't mean much to us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we got to Astoria, Todd did an excellent job of parallel parking the Big Rolling Crate in a spot that gave us 2 hours of free parking, and therefore two hours of exploration. The first thing we did was walk along a boardwalk on the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCihYMTQJX0W-_fC6ZkZSYrLcenWx506roV02DvPz5vRI3bYYqQQ3AxLxSaNuoOH_H8wyja3fCvCvdRM12UTJeGXlcO0vChYZhVvU3-tw6l2rWXbaDv0JcIgPhRdrZxYQRrc9x347Fr_I/s640/blogger-image-1029557759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCihYMTQJX0W-_fC6ZkZSYrLcenWx506roV02DvPz5vRI3bYYqQQ3AxLxSaNuoOH_H8wyja3fCvCvdRM12UTJeGXlcO0vChYZhVvU3-tw6l2rWXbaDv0JcIgPhRdrZxYQRrc9x347Fr_I/s640/blogger-image-1029557759.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the view looking out towards where the Columbia flows into the ocean. That big bridge connects Oregon and Washington.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8lCBDym-etY3vGnbs3V8HR_l76eCWrOADJ6oPYg8M9wBNYVfywhH8P-LkI-kgFPFM8DSblXPowSCQBQe1bptR_ui915E1R2mNbj8USzYT3Bj6mg-sZObabMI_VoqAuEZlTh44ioRVFiu/s640/blogger-image-1155402556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8lCBDym-etY3vGnbs3V8HR_l76eCWrOADJ6oPYg8M9wBNYVfywhH8P-LkI-kgFPFM8DSblXPowSCQBQe1bptR_ui915E1R2mNbj8USzYT3Bj6mg-sZObabMI_VoqAuEZlTh44ioRVFiu/s640/blogger-image-1155402556.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this is looking upstream. Those boats are massive cargo ships.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's a trolley that runs along the boardwalk that passed by as we walked. It was pretty neat, but also I was a little afraid of it. We walked to a deck where you could go up a flight of steps to an overlook and Todd had to carry me up there because the steps were the metal-grate variety, which are no good for dogs. Diane took the above pictures from that overlook.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our walk, I took a nap in the Big Rolling Crate while Diane and Todd had lunch at the Wet Dog Cafe. Todd had the best fish and chips of his life and Diane had a homemade bratwurst sandwich. They came back very happy and gave me a little taste of their leftovers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now that everyone was fed and happy, we crossed the big bridge to Washington and drove the Washington Scenic Coastal Byway. We have driven so many scenic byways on this trip! The views are great, by the twists and turns! I'm ready for a straight, flat highway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We passed a place called "Dismal Gulch," which is a hilarious name for a place, and then we came to another place called "Cape Disappointment," which is a state park and another hilarious name, so we stopped to check it out. It was actually quite beautiful and we never found out why it has such a silly name.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_PBgHTacsr5Hkzwx0zrmD2k3UH14CyWzTWMmfaTdkYq0SwujcIVwbg_4AmywqVmppapAAJgtrNvrGAexrEp9_hH4xgC1UCk4TzT7aQg6gk_E0hi6ZWDEt_7itf9fzTolHvvjRcy9HvWP/s640/blogger-image-1873859020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_PBgHTacsr5Hkzwx0zrmD2k3UH14CyWzTWMmfaTdkYq0SwujcIVwbg_4AmywqVmppapAAJgtrNvrGAexrEp9_hH4xgC1UCk4TzT7aQg6gk_E0hi6ZWDEt_7itf9fzTolHvvjRcy9HvWP/s640/blogger-image-1873859020.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We decided to head to Aberdeen, another place that had been recommended to us, so we continued along the coast, but we initially missed our turn, which led to a detour to "Seaview," a beach on a peninsula called Long Beach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's a beach people drive right up onto, which was a pretty odd site. All down the beach were trucks and jeeps and even some small cars. While I've seen areas on the Cape Cod National Seashore where you can drive onto the beach, the scene in Washington (and Oregon, where you can also drive onto the beach) is much different. On Cape Cod, not many people actually drive on the sand, but here it seems everyone does.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhvuRSttO4pKaSjvUEye0lLP3Ttzb2ED79c4yezAzoDiUfNCkG_UoCJVFckN_xNKUD40ud8JACSy2dgJxxqyp_lXK1ShpSJTnsF8uNLIZ8uKxzHfY1s2sVQHjXyy6kcHLimBPfMpz1Mq6/s640/blogger-image-1588176113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhvuRSttO4pKaSjvUEye0lLP3Ttzb2ED79c4yezAzoDiUfNCkG_UoCJVFckN_xNKUD40ud8JACSy2dgJxxqyp_lXK1ShpSJTnsF8uNLIZ8uKxzHfY1s2sVQHjXyy6kcHLimBPfMpz1Mq6/s640/blogger-image-1588176113.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We drove onto the beach in Oregon where the sand was very firm and then we turned around and got out of there before our 10,000 lb truck could settle in. All the way across the country Todd had been joking that he wanted to touch the wheels to the ocean, but he didn't actually do that because even he could see it was a terrible idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, we didn't drive onto the beach in Washington because the sand was very soft. Instead we parked and took a walk and the sun came out and it was very pleasant. As we walked along, Todd accidentally dropped his phone and when he picked it up he got a big surprise. Black grains of sand were stuck to it in a crazy pattern like one of those silly magnetic desk toys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgwX1Jioo6pMWbVdthCQPeSHY8CeYwYDfBRauR_L0azJDfUvtbKSU2JPUUlVEMWKQoOZY2x18CIl_SIhQlK8t_HIXk15sDtKmCWcDAC4WOIV3sEoR98WhSYFrZ7WpXH51to-oEY4mf1TI/s640/blogger-image--1730463943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgwX1Jioo6pMWbVdthCQPeSHY8CeYwYDfBRauR_L0azJDfUvtbKSU2JPUUlVEMWKQoOZY2x18CIl_SIhQlK8t_HIXk15sDtKmCWcDAC4WOIV3sEoR98WhSYFrZ7WpXH51to-oEY4mf1TI/s640/blogger-image--1730463943.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The sand didn't break his phone. He broke his phone way back in Boulder when he was riding his bike to pick up the Big Rolling Crate from the garage. It's okay, though, because it's an old phone. It was Diane's 3.5 years. When she got a new one before our trip, she put Todd's number on her old one, since his phone had a broken screen. It only took him about 2.5 weeks to break the screen on this one, too, which might be a sign that he shouldn't have a smartphone.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our walk, we went back to the Big Rolling Crate and took out the jetboil camp stove and tea things and made a cup of afternoon tea in the shade of the Big Rolling Crate. Sitting there, by the side of the road, Diane and Todd were basically an advertisement for ambulance-camping. Everyone who passed by had something to say about our "rig." Generally, they seemed to think it was cool. One guy confessed he's always dreamed of converting an ambulance into a camper, so we gave him a tour and told him all about it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXURiVTlD3fUf4-xYBB8bE2UuenkPNyoZXkhHjRYq7CsmMAwDy779RT8q1dYwclfJbOBY772Mm4kUADbAGltVHDOByChTOAUqyH9f1hmYJ9_ynt2AAflNbNyvAmzfv8WvOAbQ-Qvv8RojT/s640/blogger-image-1120229034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXURiVTlD3fUf4-xYBB8bE2UuenkPNyoZXkhHjRYq7CsmMAwDy779RT8q1dYwclfJbOBY772Mm4kUADbAGltVHDOByChTOAUqyH9f1hmYJ9_ynt2AAflNbNyvAmzfv8WvOAbQ-Qvv8RojT/s640/blogger-image-1120229034.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After tea, we continued on to Aberdeen. When we got there, we wondered why it had been recommended to us. The town seemed a bit down on its luck. We looked on a map and found a beach with the very Massachusetts name of "Cohasset" and realized we could get there just in time for sunset, so that's what we did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even though it was overcast, the sunset was beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_7rc8C1-_57tz8BElKyGbMMCZn2WsGMS3AhrZFVSlguL4Su-jQC_Zm7YEgjJFkEnIWC6RRZBt1YQCoNbqIepfJEKQI8kPV9AkgxDLLjp7NOic9-jGG1KfSCDeVD9lV0PQ_IjvG8He_m3/s640/blogger-image--343227117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_7rc8C1-_57tz8BElKyGbMMCZn2WsGMS3AhrZFVSlguL4Su-jQC_Zm7YEgjJFkEnIWC6RRZBt1YQCoNbqIepfJEKQI8kPV9AkgxDLLjp7NOic9-jGG1KfSCDeVD9lV0PQ_IjvG8He_m3/s640/blogger-image--343227117.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd on the dunes taking pictures with his real camera.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG_mUydy5DXJSx-zX97BuHEpcnvvfc2GyarghhRVeG9i0sFKArv1rsbOLOEEm-RX1SMTFL9SC78lnUZP_m4DSOU_zTQTW9IH6TwtW4MWrIkJJfEUbNkjWQUmwzKp8osUimd0rTkmfeorK/s640/blogger-image--589789742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG_mUydy5DXJSx-zX97BuHEpcnvvfc2GyarghhRVeG9i0sFKArv1rsbOLOEEm-RX1SMTFL9SC78lnUZP_m4DSOU_zTQTW9IH6TwtW4MWrIkJJfEUbNkjWQUmwzKp8osUimd0rTkmfeorK/s640/blogger-image--589789742.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The clouds lit up by sunset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKnsvJRq5_v3C3BC-pBvTTJlLh_G4L2q0pVC4TQFDncn37_QA8wYvwXlOeIfza8xlYzbQD5577SDo1XKVlTS64QQOOXBaApl7pa2LKEklwF5F7p8_17hCVUu2L1gqYlvo4kYT_KC8nn9E/s640/blogger-image-1821668480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKnsvJRq5_v3C3BC-pBvTTJlLh_G4L2q0pVC4TQFDncn37_QA8wYvwXlOeIfza8xlYzbQD5577SDo1XKVlTS64QQOOXBaApl7pa2LKEklwF5F7p8_17hCVUu2L1gqYlvo4kYT_KC8nn9E/s640/blogger-image-1821668480.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The colors gradually fading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As we walked back to the car, we saw the craziest animal-washed-up-on-beach ever:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3R4K0bo8kH-FOBEJYntfgsE1MkyNvCe0rZfMsPhKJM0oXwiF47ZOjYqCh_SFMI4CI2Z9-Tat8bci5wd6ecA8aQj4Vnan3qHEHYUOlghFCcEecqdT6NVocz4481fDzqKSW_rCM7L-HNX8/s640/blogger-image-1345713888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3R4K0bo8kH-FOBEJYntfgsE1MkyNvCe0rZfMsPhKJM0oXwiF47ZOjYqCh_SFMI4CI2Z9-Tat8bci5wd6ecA8aQj4Vnan3qHEHYUOlghFCcEecqdT6NVocz4481fDzqKSW_rCM7L-HNX8/s640/blogger-image-1345713888.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Deer? Moose? Elk? Horse? Couldn't tell you, but this isn't something you see on Cape Cod, that's for sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the growing twilight, we drove back to the Walmart in Aberdeen to crash for the night. It was one of our earliest Walmart arrivals yet, which was nice because we were all tired from our big beach day. When we pulled into the parking lot, we were shocked to see another ambulance-camper! It was the first fellow ambulance-camper we'd seen on our whole trip so we parked right by it in hopes of meeting its owner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the morning, Todd did meet its owner, a single guy from California. The back of his had a small sleeping bunk on one side and a bunch of surf boards, windsurfers, and a motorbike in the back. He told Todd he's never going back to California. Apparently he plans to be an ambulance-camping bum forever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Aberdeen's pop culture claim to fame is that it is the hometown of Kurt Cobain. It seems like just the sort of grungy town to produce a Kurt Cobain. In fact, the Walmart parking lot, we saw a lot of would-be Cobains in plaid flannel shirts. When we pulled into our parking space Friday night, we were surprised when a really beat up old van pulled up between us and a really beat up old pickup truck. A guy got out of the van and popped the hood of the pick up and started doing to mechanic work that seemed to last until about 2 in the morning and included changing at least two of the wheels on the pickup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We weren't too sorry to get the heck out of there in the morning.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-70762033761318731702016-07-25T00:00:00.001-04:002016-07-25T00:17:16.555-04:00Travelogue -- Toes in the Pacific Ocean<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYBVJv84_gCMW_c9Bkw8dwTsxdCnncZH2EbG3bJ-7GH4CLSHq6ui4vgAi7DEtP4zQtSBVUg7xXp_iVTbL221hkRBEQGYck_noXNDVahUjOB1thtxq9LNY-AWZTzcbdB17TA2SJr4nLpkU/s640/blogger-image-1937894048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYBVJv84_gCMW_c9Bkw8dwTsxdCnncZH2EbG3bJ-7GH4CLSHq6ui4vgAi7DEtP4zQtSBVUg7xXp_iVTbL221hkRBEQGYck_noXNDVahUjOB1thtxq9LNY-AWZTzcbdB17TA2SJr4nLpkU/s640/blogger-image-1937894048.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thursday, we woke up early at our Oregon Walmart and Todd spotted something he'd been wishing for for weeks: A car wash with a big truck bay. He scrubbed the Big Rolling Crate until it was shiny as new and he vacuumed out the back where it was full of dust and dirt from camping and we got back on the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wednesday night, we couldn't see what the scenery was like in Oregon, but by the light of day we saw that we weren't missing much. Rolling hills of scrubby brush and brownness. Not much to see. For a while. And then, all of a sudden, a huge river in the wasteland: The Mighty Columbia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While the river was massive, at first, it wasn't all that scenic to tell the truth. The hills were as brown and dull on either side as they'd been before we got to the river. After a little while though we passed a sign that we were entering the "Scenic Columbia River Gorge," and the scenery began to change. The hills were covered in tall pines and wild flowers and they became steeper and more dramatic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We don't have a lot of pictures since we didn't stop driving, but here's one Diane took from the window as we drove:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyfG7gqA-VtyDV5dYsjhhDFBQQ23gL3CSbLJJCSkb13IEAtW1VF4uhXuG18EVYFAtpznESWqJ2Oygmydw-Va7i8XJtKHsLvsGepdhnUlZAXRa0EbhKG5HyWlAQofgOxTeFMdGrSwi2wkw/s640/blogger-image-716449444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyfG7gqA-VtyDV5dYsjhhDFBQQ23gL3CSbLJJCSkb13IEAtW1VF4uhXuG18EVYFAtpznESWqJ2Oygmydw-Va7i8XJtKHsLvsGepdhnUlZAXRa0EbhKG5HyWlAQofgOxTeFMdGrSwi2wkw/s640/blogger-image-716449444.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The highway goes right along the river for miles and miles. After lunch, Diane drove and Todd did some research to find a nice place to take a walk. He came up with John B. Yeon State park and Elowah Falls. We had some trouble finding the trailhead, and the debate over whose fault that was might never be solved, but in getting lost, we did stumble across these yummy blackberries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gfpukqaHFE6bSEL7vpcCabs65eAt9MD8TrRBTzpknNGZTWCRuuCYbCx6GNcyR1hV3H9E8FIpq9obLunavSjEeYbmSKbSh8Ke7dsZT40ioosZVoxaigRk0HJ3anhsSnwX7xelh37FhS75/s640/blogger-image--1055963146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gfpukqaHFE6bSEL7vpcCabs65eAt9MD8TrRBTzpknNGZTWCRuuCYbCx6GNcyR1hV3H9E8FIpq9obLunavSjEeYbmSKbSh8Ke7dsZT40ioosZVoxaigRk0HJ3anhsSnwX7xelh37FhS75/s640/blogger-image--1055963146.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Eventually we found the trail and set off and as we walked, we all realized something: We were back in the land of humidity. Everything was so clammy. For the better part of three weeks we've been in places where the humidity was always about 10-12%. The air was so dry you couldn't drink enough water to keep your mouth from feeling dry. It was hard to get used to, but we finally had, and there were lots of nice things about it: Laundry and towels dry crazy fast, bread never gets moldy, and even though it is hot out, it doesn't feel oppressive. But in the mountains above the Columbia it was more like home--sticky and sort of uncomfortable even though the temperature was only in the low 70s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The hike was steep but not too hard and it had a pretty big payoff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PeqA6SMbCsA2aWXpl7hIgrRF5qCSZPRLGTHx5SMRX0G58yNi6mze8Is_pBzvGpElb4bjM-AQ79y_FWEkuYZ3pa8hk_zUw2H7YBFp8JOUeLNxwYFJql-_OblBzIJ5HZIwRcZchRYhpQCO/s640/blogger-image--2087506447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PeqA6SMbCsA2aWXpl7hIgrRF5qCSZPRLGTHx5SMRX0G58yNi6mze8Is_pBzvGpElb4bjM-AQ79y_FWEkuYZ3pa8hk_zUw2H7YBFp8JOUeLNxwYFJql-_OblBzIJ5HZIwRcZchRYhpQCO/s640/blogger-image--2087506447.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This nifty waterfall!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are some other pics from our hike:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjOmSsAin7dlEXVCr7vkdCMziaptTltUoiN5O4BxzisVSapaHrSS-t6nokYJmcGHR62eturwaAG7GhUx-ewT6ux9XumexrJJJAMEaYQ23l_O2bGN-7rfsOIGYu_ANNqCISCvxUe57_PKg/s640/blogger-image--178426537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjOmSsAin7dlEXVCr7vkdCMziaptTltUoiN5O4BxzisVSapaHrSS-t6nokYJmcGHR62eturwaAG7GhUx-ewT6ux9XumexrJJJAMEaYQ23l_O2bGN-7rfsOIGYu_ANNqCISCvxUe57_PKg/s640/blogger-image--178426537.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a very steep part of the trail so the path made a hairpin turn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K75n0Q3hMv4Ae0wwfq2GA929hwYphFzYQptlPEupqXyr60qP09wtCPOQQ-v6es4-GdWBPSWGSjQpqZxF7CIdPvkgGfSxCjzRTciLbr4WjW9EM6F17AyE2ddrxhno4BQpkNO8yeRHt7ix/s640/blogger-image--346328769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K75n0Q3hMv4Ae0wwfq2GA929hwYphFzYQptlPEupqXyr60qP09wtCPOQQ-v6es4-GdWBPSWGSjQpqZxF7CIdPvkgGfSxCjzRTciLbr4WjW9EM6F17AyE2ddrxhno4BQpkNO8yeRHt7ix/s640/blogger-image--346328769.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These trees were completely covered in thick moss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0hyBV7Z2xZT2Y1C6CoJ1zBZmgSSBqfM_3tzpv9dX-mZrUrRkUtoNwvt1Vv9_6zjT_-Is8GhhU_yYRICZcqaW4tF-3ybtBqbVcZUbDaZlOfU-Bbs7qTJm6lGFs6C4-opB5yjcv5vAttXt/s640/blogger-image-1734254162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0hyBV7Z2xZT2Y1C6CoJ1zBZmgSSBqfM_3tzpv9dX-mZrUrRkUtoNwvt1Vv9_6zjT_-Is8GhhU_yYRICZcqaW4tF-3ybtBqbVcZUbDaZlOfU-Bbs7qTJm6lGFs6C4-opB5yjcv5vAttXt/s640/blogger-image-1734254162.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I got to swim below the waterfall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our hike, we got back on the road to Portland, and after a small traffic jam, our first since Chicago!, we made it to that hippie city. We drove around some hip-looking neighborhoods and then crossed the river to downtown. Todd found a perfect parking space on the street for the Big Rolling Crate and we took a walk in a big park. I was kind of scared to be around so many people and dogs, but I always like a walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8k7kfXkKwQaq1OT7lv1hs_E6bFlbeK3KuZcZFVEXdU2RjgZ196eG1KSgZvxhqwXYuQfmx5it5JK1SfgjsS1wKDKLukuldTjn3t2151VG9o_gjN-5EJotC_NaL-9FD3_Et_1nprUKh5KY/s640/blogger-image-1249604552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8k7kfXkKwQaq1OT7lv1hs_E6bFlbeK3KuZcZFVEXdU2RjgZ196eG1KSgZvxhqwXYuQfmx5it5JK1SfgjsS1wKDKLukuldTjn3t2151VG9o_gjN-5EJotC_NaL-9FD3_Et_1nprUKh5KY/s640/blogger-image-1249604552.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd liked this statute of Teddy Roosevelt, which makes sense, because Todd, like that old Rough Rider, believes in "The Strenuous Life."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixL3DrDAlmJB_ZhAevN_PzaQJrkvYLk8UfY0FJIzdit7XmjnDyXxnDGEoepSQ53QFGvvWJhW6jADblrFSbWDiQ_JbKYeAkjm81oqmeHSoTGNaF1h5Hyn9NiIsd_FkvqHBgKnX7AP1Kzm6/s640/blogger-image--1092137297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixL3DrDAlmJB_ZhAevN_PzaQJrkvYLk8UfY0FJIzdit7XmjnDyXxnDGEoepSQ53QFGvvWJhW6jADblrFSbWDiQ_JbKYeAkjm81oqmeHSoTGNaF1h5Hyn9NiIsd_FkvqHBgKnX7AP1Kzm6/s640/blogger-image--1092137297.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our walk took us to a park along the river where Todd and I posed for this picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our walk, I rested while Todd and Diane got some dinner. I was a little disappointed that there were no leftovers for me. They ate frozen yogurt for dinner, which is ridiculous considering that we were in a city full of delicious smells that suggested many real food options were available.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before we left Portland, Todd studied our trusty old atlas and, based only on its name and proximity to Portland, choose the town of Seaside for our destination. To be honest, until we got there, I didn't fully understand that the Pacific was ocean, and I wasn't sure why it was such a big deal that we get there. I mean, we've been heading west for three weeks going from place to place, mostly mountains, and I liked all of them. Every time I got used to a place, we had to leave it, and I didn't know what could be so special about this Pacific place. And then we arrived. And I understood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The sand! The surf! The sea breeze! The salt air! I LOVE THE BEACH! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At first, we when got to Seaside and pulled into a parking lot, I was cranky and tired and hungry and not that interested. Then I got a whiff of that salt air and I was off like a shot towards the water! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This beach was a lot different from where we go in Maine or where we go on Cape Cod. The sand stretched a long way between where the hotels were and the water. All up and down the beach, people were having bonfires that lit up the twilight and scented the air. It was very peaceful, even though it was kind of cool outside and a little drizzly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We got a hotel for the night right on the beach and we were all pretty happy campers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-a6yf_NXzpwAx4AzY-CLeLo8ByZup5NFArJ_RqgW5EZt-9R3HwCZApjB322BPBoYhKtM-IyJ_X71Yck41Qh6-Nk5ZN4a37WLNYswwcfreIDssaW5Ev5W0d-XVFNHwvMXRaanymVUUl5I/s640/blogger-image--1400246200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-a6yf_NXzpwAx4AzY-CLeLo8ByZup5NFArJ_RqgW5EZt-9R3HwCZApjB322BPBoYhKtM-IyJ_X71Yck41Qh6-Nk5ZN4a37WLNYswwcfreIDssaW5Ev5W0d-XVFNHwvMXRaanymVUUl5I/s640/blogger-image--1400246200.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the morning, we slept in and then Diane did her favorite hotel trick: She asked for a late check out. So far, every time she's asked, she's been given one. Diane and Todd went out for breakfast Andy hen they came back and got me for a big swim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It wasn't very hot out and it was overcast, but we all agreed, we came all this way, we had to swim. We raced down the sand and through some tide pools and straight into the rising tide. The water was much warmed than it is in Maine at this time of year, much to all of our surprise. We swam and splashed and ran and Diane and Todd laughed at me as I raced the waves and we picked up some sand dollars that had drifted ashore. If only we had more time, we could have passed many happy days here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidG-XxcEV084w-OlfvnbfhOO4vAfyapTrTc0Vmh7HS1mN84NIA886kVp249kCrVyNYVB2DsT1a5k30D9wv86sWLxnYztQSy4rdUxNEPgv8zja6lyULd_p4qjqIEC50RvHI9onUenYnDsD/s640/blogger-image-159228959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidG-XxcEV084w-OlfvnbfhOO4vAfyapTrTc0Vmh7HS1mN84NIA886kVp249kCrVyNYVB2DsT1a5k30D9wv86sWLxnYztQSy4rdUxNEPgv8zja6lyULd_p4qjqIEC50RvHI9onUenYnDsD/s640/blogger-image-159228959.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-86127267445001654052016-07-24T22:23:00.001-04:002016-07-24T22:23:58.663-04:00Travelogue -- Scenic Idaho, Famous Potatoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwzpb3P5AWMPx2PglPA4fNhnLE4McWqNkTPHY-w-FMQKVTLAuXIh-bwmIxl7a7LLb3NufsNbBrHMBIWJuUV1n4gnWM0YfPn_NksdVuEJ5g9o9xd1U0ZAWnUPvyS1X81cxbxEaLLjoii4n/s640/blogger-image-74481554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwzpb3P5AWMPx2PglPA4fNhnLE4McWqNkTPHY-w-FMQKVTLAuXIh-bwmIxl7a7LLb3NufsNbBrHMBIWJuUV1n4gnWM0YfPn_NksdVuEJ5g9o9xd1U0ZAWnUPvyS1X81cxbxEaLLjoii4n/s640/blogger-image-74481554.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm writing this from a hotel near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. We weren't planning on a hotel tonight. We were planning to be in Missoula, Montana, visiting Diane's college roommate Jeanne. The Big Rolling Crate had other ideas. A few miles from Coeur D'Alene this afternoon, it decided it had had enough and quit. So here we are, at a hotel, and the Big Rolling Crate is 4.5 miles away at the Chevy dealer, who will hopefully be able to fix it tomorrow so we can stay on schedule to make it to Maine by Saturday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the upside, Diane and I have time to work on the blog because we haven't made any updates in a whole week and so much has happened!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As we mentioned in our last round of updates, on Monday, July 18, we visited the Craters of the Moon. To be honest, up to that point, we were all sort of wondering if the whole "Scenic Idaho" thing, as the license plates here proclaim, was intended sarcastically. Southern Idaho is kind of ugly. Everything is brown. Brown hills. Brown plains. The towns are tiny (we passed places with populations under 100!). A huge swatch of what we drove through ran along a big fence and a restricted area for some nuclear laboratory, and the most interested geographical features were hideous lava rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd kept saying, "There's a numbered dirt road. We can probably camp up there."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And Diane kept saying, "Why in the world would we want to camp here?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nonetheless, we headed towards the big green area on the map where all the National Forests of Idaho begin. We turned off of the main road we'd been traveling towards Sun Valley and the Sawtooth National Forest, and things became scenic pretty quickly actually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fun fact courteous of the park ranger we chatted with in the Sawtooths: Sun Valley was the first ski area with a chair lift (as opposed to a tow rope or other sort of lift that runs on the ground), which was commissioned by the owner of the Union Pacific railroad in order to get more people to ride the rails in the winter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We didn't linger in Sun Valley, though, because it was already getting well on into the evening and we had a campground in mind that was still a ways down the road. We made the long, slow climb up into the National Forests, stopping a few times to prevent overheating, a reality we are totally accustomed to at this point, and then back down into the valley. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Eventually we came to the Alturus Lake area and found our intended campground, The North Shore Campground, which was a small National Forest campground with a handful of lakefront sites. We got the last spot, and it was perfect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMF72yCbzMWI-9V3_ynzaFdd69IV8dQAWdergZXE_A7Qt8yVzXADgNZQuYUuNlYaO9bt_z98UMjopAIMv1pKe_tVrD9EUmCMtGN2sXhIs_biePDVui4HInFQhj3tAPME8aaoVJZ3KI-HV/s640/blogger-image-949120189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMF72yCbzMWI-9V3_ynzaFdd69IV8dQAWdergZXE_A7Qt8yVzXADgNZQuYUuNlYaO9bt_z98UMjopAIMv1pKe_tVrD9EUmCMtGN2sXhIs_biePDVui4HInFQhj3tAPME8aaoVJZ3KI-HV/s640/blogger-image-949120189.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While we were getting settled for the night, two other campers came over to ask about our "rig," which is what people call campers of all varieties. It was the most curious its we've had directed our way in a campground, but it was the start of a trend that would continue throughout our stay in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. People here are so friendly and they aren't shy about asking questions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stayed for two nights at this camp, and the timing could not have been better if we'd planned it. We were here, right on the lake under clear skies, for the full moon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane and Todd have turned into pretty lazy campers by now. When we first began our trip, they were all about taking out the big camp stove and cooking, grinding up coffee by hand, washing the dishes with the solar shower, and all that stuff, but here they used instant coffee, paper plates and disposable utensils, and even dipped into the "emergency meals" to have freeze dried beef stew straight out of a pouch for dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVGhEs_jPvpbMI2W4uUWbNqpD-G9S3ZiZNgWHw9ts1nojv7OkFaXUlPDV_poRIzy6RzP_MY5oexZ68OW048dOu9O8bHvGYfsrGaNC7IzEHDTMsCQGuQMuDiVH4EAJbM06MpCUcOmnm7Pd/s640/blogger-image--748464967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVGhEs_jPvpbMI2W4uUWbNqpD-G9S3ZiZNgWHw9ts1nojv7OkFaXUlPDV_poRIzy6RzP_MY5oexZ68OW048dOu9O8bHvGYfsrGaNC7IzEHDTMsCQGuQMuDiVH4EAJbM06MpCUcOmnm7Pd/s640/blogger-image--748464967.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I got to have the leftovers, and let me tell you, they were delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We arrived fairly late Monday night, and we left Wednesday morning, so Tuesday was our only full day in the Sawtooths. In the morning, we went on a lovely hike where we saw beautiful wild flowers and I got to swim in the lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd took the good pictures of wild flowers with his real camera, which we have not way of getting onto Diane's iPad for the blog right now, so you'll have to settle for this one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55xzbDN3x8las7TaHaOd7lZ6kR9fyFvZfxCrrmPalzxRU_vxrPnoeAnKVKLA_ZeaaTO0k-Fk-ZfbWbu1hxDbQqwZaZC9rJccDZQwL0kItcwes5b5kdND_Tc6Q345mBOZ2UqAPwSvane0o/s640/blogger-image-2096769130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55xzbDN3x8las7TaHaOd7lZ6kR9fyFvZfxCrrmPalzxRU_vxrPnoeAnKVKLA_ZeaaTO0k-Fk-ZfbWbu1hxDbQqwZaZC9rJccDZQwL0kItcwes5b5kdND_Tc6Q345mBOZ2UqAPwSvane0o/s640/blogger-image-2096769130.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The water in the lake was icy cold because we were up at an elevation of about 7,400 feet. It was also as clear and blue as can be, and I loved it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVPog-dNJFdp48lG01jb433K7dAqSs4_8w6ezUdMVQ1MZv93OebTVYouYKLpvovLc5w8rePxNNll9hyg__Szz-K6uCGSnjkjlZ1yXoxiVIOhTfxSDdDyolYKmKo3BAvmkJ4QTdiSsFa6Y/s640/blogger-image--981873845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVPog-dNJFdp48lG01jb433K7dAqSs4_8w6ezUdMVQ1MZv93OebTVYouYKLpvovLc5w8rePxNNll9hyg__Szz-K6uCGSnjkjlZ1yXoxiVIOhTfxSDdDyolYKmKo3BAvmkJ4QTdiSsFa6Y/s640/blogger-image--981873845.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was pretty worn out from all our recent activities, so in the afternoon I took a nap while Diane and Todd rode their bikes a mile or so down the road to a swimming beach that a park ranger had said was nice because the water there was "warmer." Warmer, of course, is a relative term. Diane says the water was as cold as the ocean in Maine in May. Todd managed to get all the way in and swim a little, but Diane never got more than knee deep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On Wednesday morning, after instant coffee and another fight with the bikes, which really do not like being strapped to the back of the Big Rolling Crate, we headed through the forest toward Boise. As we drove, Todd realized that we had driven into such a remote area that there was not one single radio station on the FM dial. He was really happy about that because his whole goal on this trip was to get far from civilization.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We made a lot of stops on the way to Boise. The first was Redfish Lake, another big, clear, cold, popular camping spot. It was beautiful, a lot like the Tetons, except I was actually allowed to do things here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-9q8KAo39iQ4vQMNH3aSvBEyoav7t8OnbFNWYRcVFn7gOovFFCJT5DrrfbszEYzygXNK_2Z0nGJ_1aCQLBi-VW_61btAG91s3XDksSP_K8Bd5-VCTslhpNX7cxQib-U-Xl2xtbVnoTXX/s640/blogger-image-1160527185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-9q8KAo39iQ4vQMNH3aSvBEyoav7t8OnbFNWYRcVFn7gOovFFCJT5DrrfbszEYzygXNK_2Z0nGJ_1aCQLBi-VW_61btAG91s3XDksSP_K8Bd5-VCTslhpNX7cxQib-U-Xl2xtbVnoTXX/s640/blogger-image-1160527185.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While we were there, I had the extreme pleasure of rolling in a dead fish on the lakeshore, and then I had to face the utter humiliation of being given a bath in a marina parking lot. I was so embarrassed. I don't know what Diane and Todd hate so much about me smelling so great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Shortly after our stop at Redfish Lake, we crossed into Boise National Forest, which was more crazy steep mountains and ridiculous mountain roads full of curves and ups and downs that make Diane and Todd very nervous about the state of the Big Rolling Crate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped for a hike at the Warm Creek Trail. It was very steep, very dusty, and did not seem to actually have anything to do with any warm creeks, at least not where we were, but the views were nice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkLw8SyofptaoJRCLU4qVw3FKh3oRxQF60YhXvBJks8Z9jkuUBLUB1Updwvgvd5aIU1UWRxqj9uPvc8QfTIDX8st1Q0lgHPlTj2ZI0u94yzvYZLKCrbUlliUAnvpxRXFfwi59bYfQp8WP/s640/blogger-image-80270984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkLw8SyofptaoJRCLU4qVw3FKh3oRxQF60YhXvBJks8Z9jkuUBLUB1Updwvgvd5aIU1UWRxqj9uPvc8QfTIDX8st1Q0lgHPlTj2ZI0u94yzvYZLKCrbUlliUAnvpxRXFfwi59bYfQp8WP/s640/blogger-image-80270984.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had to drive a long dirt road to get to the trailhead, and after our hike, instead of turning right back to the highway, we explored the dirt road more to see if we could get to an access point of the Payette River. When we finally did, Todd and I took a quick swim while Diane just waded. The water was, once again, very cold!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyhPQ_dqAgg8f7C9au1DM1wdPxpMNMMcRR4a8Oz71paomjlrc7hQKe2aVCeEx3_0SmoqqBbB7c-o-6s6AS2tqZOIvlbvl0l5vqIEHowQjHJy8sDH-LtIB9fuXzBSKgBak0Dqgcbt3mfo4/s640/blogger-image-1784689376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyhPQ_dqAgg8f7C9au1DM1wdPxpMNMMcRR4a8Oz71paomjlrc7hQKe2aVCeEx3_0SmoqqBbB7c-o-6s6AS2tqZOIvlbvl0l5vqIEHowQjHJy8sDH-LtIB9fuXzBSKgBak0Dqgcbt3mfo4/s640/blogger-image-1784689376.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The river was very fast flowing and deep in the middle. I swam in a pool right up against the bank. Todd got into the deeper part.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhRVUifsZcDP2mB2XsmejFnRuI51y-KjNfsHg4QzMJ7bAlIEjK4WgnJ0j2CJE2wc1dOQTAUIdyOFf8VRuE8Syxn1viF6L3Bk9WF4G3hakDILgwaCJ-dtQE1IkvCs1q64eina40oloVpSH/s640/blogger-image-1558474465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhRVUifsZcDP2mB2XsmejFnRuI51y-KjNfsHg4QzMJ7bAlIEjK4WgnJ0j2CJE2wc1dOQTAUIdyOFf8VRuE8Syxn1viF6L3Bk9WF4G3hakDILgwaCJ-dtQE1IkvCs1q64eina40oloVpSH/s640/blogger-image-1558474465.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was getting on into the afternoon by the time we left, and Diane was eager for us to get a move on because mountain driving is very slow and she wanted to make sure we made it to Boise that night as planned, but we'd only gone a short ways when Todd saw something that made him pull over suddenly to the side of the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What he saw was a place where people were swimming in the river and splashing in waterfalls that emptied into it. He turned around and drove back up to the parking area and when she saw the sign, Diane became giddy. They weren't just waterfalls. They were hot springs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I couldn't go in the hot springs, which was fine with me because I prefer cold water, but Diane and Todd paid the $5 parking fee and took their time relaxing in the hot water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY4BLUxGvIjpp6SlC_sVkY8kLO8AYtyTjOs_Y4yjwZABGfKjVLSEY-SrVnyNfTmdkuQiCrtpKEfK4aVnZXxoqh3v6yArXUJ8_ux-0Z5ZugpBQP5gk76Oohtvpqwq4qTZD4ipZNU9I9UsN/s640/blogger-image--1049288637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY4BLUxGvIjpp6SlC_sVkY8kLO8AYtyTjOs_Y4yjwZABGfKjVLSEY-SrVnyNfTmdkuQiCrtpKEfK4aVnZXxoqh3v6yArXUJ8_ux-0Z5ZugpBQP5gk76Oohtvpqwq4qTZD4ipZNU9I9UsN/s640/blogger-image--1049288637.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While they were down there, some white water rafting trips floated past. In this picture you can see that the water dripping down the rocks is yellow from the sulfur of the hot springs. The river is the same icy one we swam in the earlier. Diane says that where the hot (VERY hot) water from the springs mixes into the river, it's like bath water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Believe it or not, our adventures for the day weren't even over yet. While we were at the hot springs, some smoke began drifting over the ridge, and we all knew what it reminded us of: Colorado. There was definitely a wildfire burning nearby, so we decided to make haste and get out of there because we've had enough of that. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">What we didn't know was that by driving to Boise we were headed straight for it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The hilly road gave the Big Rolling Crate a heck of a workout on the ride out. We stopped at summit to let the engine cool down and Todd happened to get out and walk around the back and notice the exhaust pipe was hanging down. Apparently our dirt road earlier that day had knocked the rusty old thing loose.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCO8xaZwr6k4YRDzwPSndJMVjIQ8WjwTaZRLyknO_8hd12nAiHrCUCPTkQ-hfT8ZIYG8ctDaNEWdtiF7Pd3uvI7YddVCkchjdzvSdzT4hwZfZBBI5daeQ_01-1EHuHThxRz8wfbwE2VFR/s640/blogger-image-2021595873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCO8xaZwr6k4YRDzwPSndJMVjIQ8WjwTaZRLyknO_8hd12nAiHrCUCPTkQ-hfT8ZIYG8ctDaNEWdtiF7Pd3uvI7YddVCkchjdzvSdzT4hwZfZBBI5daeQ_01-1EHuHThxRz8wfbwE2VFR/s640/blogger-image-2021595873.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Fortunately the Big Rolling Crate has a tool shed and Todd had brought some wire, so he strung it up and we continued on our way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This was some of the wildest, least populated road we'd traveled yet, which was a concern as the fuel gauge began to dip towards E. We were all holding our breath to see if we would make it to a town with diesel. We definitely cut it close, because it seems most of the towns out there are ghost towns. Fortunately we were able to fuel up and continue our journey.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Shortly after gassing up, we came to a huge lake deep down in a gorge and a sight none of us had ever seen before: A helicopter picking up water to drop on the wildfire, which we'd been approaching this whole time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmlpe2WhpVw9xo2XpYcAOcpyWu0_D05NGBVbdRdAQD8z8BzazGyX4zFbBA54WO826yFQnJ2iJpRGbYHGFfCuhxS-uyEd6H5zhD-kDjrLcHymXF4JlcoIfGRnQRHW7QG1ihTLJkuuky9eo/s640/blogger-image--1715326742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmlpe2WhpVw9xo2XpYcAOcpyWu0_D05NGBVbdRdAQD8z8BzazGyX4zFbBA54WO826yFQnJ2iJpRGbYHGFfCuhxS-uyEd6H5zhD-kDjrLcHymXF4JlcoIfGRnQRHW7QG1ihTLJkuuky9eo/s640/blogger-image--1715326742.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped and watched the helipcopter make three or four passes. Diane took a cool video of it but the app she's using for a our blog doesn't let us upload videos :(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At last we drove on, the hills all around us blackened and still smoldering, and soon we came to the town of Boise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XMGkYrlbv_xrElSBMde_aDTe0Rh24c5xKd_0GxyLGW1NYYi-5zAdndND3L_EpM-hQa1Pe0YgHQ9uYLG2BwZAVXuRj0QUDByvx9MMENQmp5Rs4AB7j3Cc5wJNFVqsi88zRp_M4IAcvTxX/s640/blogger-image--1643421155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XMGkYrlbv_xrElSBMde_aDTe0Rh24c5xKd_0GxyLGW1NYYi-5zAdndND3L_EpM-hQa1Pe0YgHQ9uYLG2BwZAVXuRj0QUDByvx9MMENQmp5Rs4AB7j3Cc5wJNFVqsi88zRp_M4IAcvTxX/s640/blogger-image--1643421155.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We parked right by the State House and I explored the soft grass around the big building. Then Diane and Todd went to a nice restaurant called Bittercreek Ale House for dinner. They brought me back some poutine, which is officially the yummiest thing I've ever eaten.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqZs-K1p1i2PJLkzz9KZjWugU46ExPhvhHIzEzu95PeIjdQBXdcZdXchKMFXJELmP4I0Vn72ozejQx5AY2PNORLNf7a3zKzFDZiRZKK9fgDx8jRhoWUFf4XRP8lmkRGAOUko2Z7wBTNw9/s640/blogger-image-82714185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqZs-K1p1i2PJLkzz9KZjWugU46ExPhvhHIzEzu95PeIjdQBXdcZdXchKMFXJELmP4I0Vn72ozejQx5AY2PNORLNf7a3zKzFDZiRZKK9fgDx8jRhoWUFf4XRP8lmkRGAOUko2Z7wBTNw9/s640/blogger-image-82714185.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane wanted to just crash at a Walmart outside of Boise for the night, but Todd was fired up and the proximity of Oregon and the Pacific Time Zone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A few weeks ago, when we abandoned I-90 in South Dakota and headed south fo Colorado, Todd had decided he didn't want to go all the way to the pacific and that we'd just camp all around the mountains instead. That night in Boise, he changed his mind again and decided we needed to just do it to complete our cross country adventure.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We picked out a Walmart in Oregon past the time zone line and drove on. We crossed time zones at 12:10 Mountain Time, which was as 11:10 Pacific Time. We gained an hour just like that! A few minutes later, we crossed the 45th Parallel, the theoretical halfway point between the equator and the North Pole (the actual halfway point is some kilometers north). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At last, at 12:51 Pacific Time, we arrived at Walmart in Island City, OR, and we all fell sound asleep.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></span></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-88803784795925784672016-07-21T19:26:00.001-04:002016-07-21T19:26:32.476-04:00Travelogue -- Grand Teton National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrF0Gbgon9QXwYh4vThEy-_IBgHSRWKvjk5Vc_KvVltgN4LUOpwlmc7oq-_fRtYsQcr8lpGBD2K3onbQJplymRcJkYkO0c23kr6DaWMwXNr4YKAZgVLUm6QH2nWTknWCKgDW6yVVdMkdc/s640/blogger-image--833164002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrF0Gbgon9QXwYh4vThEy-_IBgHSRWKvjk5Vc_KvVltgN4LUOpwlmc7oq-_fRtYsQcr8lpGBD2K3onbQJplymRcJkYkO0c23kr6DaWMwXNr4YKAZgVLUm6QH2nWTknWCKgDW6yVVdMkdc/s640/blogger-image--833164002.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Elk Ranch Turnout, our first close look at the Tetons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On Saturday, July 16, we drove straight to Grand Teton National Park, which was frankly really bad planning on our part. Who goes to one of the top 10 busiest national parks on a Saturday in July if they can help it? Apparently us and everybody else.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On our way to the park, we saw a mother bear and some cubs by the side of the road while a golden hawk circled overhead, and we saw a herd of bison near the entrance to the park! By mid afternoon, we'd also seen an antelope and some deer. If nothing else, it was a good day for seeing wildlife.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Because we've found weekends to be difficult in terms of last-minute camping, Diane suggested we go straight to the biggest first-come, first-served campground in the park and secure a spot, so that it was what we did. The minute we paid our $25, Todd regretted it, though. The campground was too big, too crowded, too easy. His whole vision for the Big Rolling Crate is to have something that can go where RVs can't, and there we were, at yet another campground full of RVs, and this one wasn't quiet or secluded like Sinks or even the Falls Campground where we stayed the night before. Basically, he was super bummed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The other reason he was bummed was that, just like the Badlands and Rocky Mountain, I wasn't allowed to go anywhere with him. It appears that in the National Parks, the policy is that dogs can only go where vehicles can go. No hiking. No swimming. No canoe rides. It's definitely a sensible policy given how crowded the parks are and how stupid so many dog owners are, but it's tough on all us dogs who can't even go for a walk except around the perimeter of a parking lot. It would be nice if there were at least one or two places people could bring their dogs. Everywhere we went, there were dogs in RVs, just waiting for their people. Sometimes, I was one of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, once we got to our campsite, we had lunch, and then I took a nap while Todd and Diane explored Colter Bay on bikes. Colter Bay is basically like a resort camping area with a shop, restaurants, a visitors center, a marina, and a big swimming beach, but, like I said, I wasn't allowed to go to any of it, so after their exploration, we all got back in the Big Rolling Crate for a scenic drive and trip to the town of Jackson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2bPr7QqNoYgdhPyRkFu4_rwHfYfmhnELMwsUERTWos-1Fg-FTP0WPE_3N06Lx4feBSm-Z_oqxy8Xy7VjCGeqzQZ8eovF3jXGa55ztE_8nbt47f09IuLmeDJCgUjRMgKgLBEXpKIVv_SH/s640/blogger-image--1738116676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2bPr7QqNoYgdhPyRkFu4_rwHfYfmhnELMwsUERTWos-1Fg-FTP0WPE_3N06Lx4feBSm-Z_oqxy8Xy7VjCGeqzQZ8eovF3jXGa55ztE_8nbt47f09IuLmeDJCgUjRMgKgLBEXpKIVv_SH/s640/blogger-image--1738116676.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Tetons as seen from the lake shore at Colter Bay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped a lot and took pictures and I got to swim in the stream below Jenny Lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALVgTwgusMXiXAb2bi9cXAn-lVW1z6C2eiWi-d6WlNqqwpq4g9geVV8qQ98N95m7JdPSnBO3bR3mARyp185KF2T_jJY58jFnXZ4UyEthBTAwhRKgWLZC2hJQZK3SaV4LoLVBXfdodSYNA/s640/blogger-image--508011463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALVgTwgusMXiXAb2bi9cXAn-lVW1z6C2eiWi-d6WlNqqwpq4g9geVV8qQ98N95m7JdPSnBO3bR3mARyp185KF2T_jJY58jFnXZ4UyEthBTAwhRKgWLZC2hJQZK3SaV4LoLVBXfdodSYNA/s640/blogger-image--508011463.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we got to Jackson, Todd immediately regretted the decision to drive there as it was a crowded, kitschy, tourist town, but then we found a nice big park where I could run freely and catch a ball and play, and that made him happy. Also in the park, there was a free bouldering wall, so Todd and Diane put on their climbing shoes and got in a little practice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AjzU6EVbiJkbuS6o93jG_FdZpqLCKVEfvOn51KTNgL74xsWFH2BhOF8cv7Br9fo2DnJNeoT-QjS1mw3W5dLwKs20BmvdzQeQPdnhAlC0Si9C5FFMizPzRAXzOh4z2zWmyulhxW9p0zKk/s640/blogger-image--299197049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AjzU6EVbiJkbuS6o93jG_FdZpqLCKVEfvOn51KTNgL74xsWFH2BhOF8cv7Br9fo2DnJNeoT-QjS1mw3W5dLwKs20BmvdzQeQPdnhAlC0Si9C5FFMizPzRAXzOh4z2zWmyulhxW9p0zKk/s640/blogger-image--299197049.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd on the wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZXDmFQND9K0_TzwIZh7OIQL7Exljv46EsZaW6tt8kbyRuhFwaeaGDdGNCaIxqvoYRiELMWpXrADvqTRAUtMDysyxGHj7Z_8mxpC8KvTK4erP6egGOX4NkPkfxzFg5ci_dU5z82u-XwPN/s640/blogger-image-1677448850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZXDmFQND9K0_TzwIZh7OIQL7Exljv46EsZaW6tt8kbyRuhFwaeaGDdGNCaIxqvoYRiELMWpXrADvqTRAUtMDysyxGHj7Z_8mxpC8KvTK4erP6egGOX4NkPkfxzFg5ci_dU5z82u-XwPN/s640/blogger-image-1677448850.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane on the wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After that, we drove back to Colter Bay because it was getting late. Diane and Todd went to the cafeteria for dinner and then used the public showers, and then, we were heading back to our camp, we saw this awesome scene:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9pOFrVgAdTsXGbbhNziHhZbn5tI-9iOGh1b9G51jeE7V7zIwpoZchhXiPv6iFPFVhm6F7IJ2P4aKiz0Y8N9AZpQ6Nr6WRnkwWGIJwguxuGgGLik_XS4nA7ebVL0bXBfGnYFvJ2QhXqbq/s640/blogger-image-1987659083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9pOFrVgAdTsXGbbhNziHhZbn5tI-9iOGh1b9G51jeE7V7zIwpoZchhXiPv6iFPFVhm6F7IJ2P4aKiz0Y8N9AZpQ6Nr6WRnkwWGIJwguxuGgGLik_XS4nA7ebVL0bXBfGnYFvJ2QhXqbq/s640/blogger-image-1987659083.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Talk about Purple Mountain Majesty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Overnight, it got really cold. When we went to sleep at night it was 74 in the Big Rolling Crate. When we woke up Sunday morning, it was 52! We packed up and got rolling as quick as possible because Todd had determined that the best bet for the day was a hike, which, of course, I couldn't go on, but since it was so cool in the Big Rolling Crate, Todd figured if they hiked early, I could just nap here without them. I cannot tell you how sad I was to have to miss a big hike in the mountains! It broke my heart a little. Then again, I do love napping, so it wasn't all bad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While I dozed, Diane and Todd took the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake to do the Cascades Canyon Hike, which was about 9 miles round trip. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78wiLvQcldzlenjoj7InsCIc3LIwbpwK1ZMftreI03SUwKDnPPNCNYKSaLUT0TZ_DuXJYgGoK6YNlGNjFtZJ3SYYSMWcs7vmG57Bz3dL4WEb1BFYzDLhdw-PWIscQnFn1b0iozW2bBcuF/s640/blogger-image-1123138218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78wiLvQcldzlenjoj7InsCIc3LIwbpwK1ZMftreI03SUwKDnPPNCNYKSaLUT0TZ_DuXJYgGoK6YNlGNjFtZJ3SYYSMWcs7vmG57Bz3dL4WEb1BFYzDLhdw-PWIscQnFn1b0iozW2bBcuF/s640/blogger-image-1123138218.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking up into the canyon from the boat shuttle.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Honestly, when I saw the pictures after, I wasn't too sad to miss it, because I think my paws would have hurt from all that rugged terrain. Still, the views of the mountains from the canyon were beautiful, if the pictures can be believed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRHjFiL77jraaiv5Oym7_8ZyQoi0RFHyh9PVWWPmMopi271zr3JuBc10TjmIbSaUni-az8Yd8gHN5hniKpvvIbN2pesMEfxQ7r4RLz7Kn3cUIuW_rpMlFjvWqtJrBQfpjMls_ZuQQQKX9/s640/blogger-image--673676203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRHjFiL77jraaiv5Oym7_8ZyQoi0RFHyh9PVWWPmMopi271zr3JuBc10TjmIbSaUni-az8Yd8gHN5hniKpvvIbN2pesMEfxQ7r4RLz7Kn3cUIuW_rpMlFjvWqtJrBQfpjMls_ZuQQQKX9/s640/blogger-image--673676203.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane says this was about a little less than halfway through the hike.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B8zIC2WqCnEsDl0E5-oqtfhoOEiwRDDSs3eTwa9jn5bH7vQo7YA5DYqSIaRPgJAmmpiud5K7KB-p3BlWBz4vzPvlM0dZ28YAOWuY-56QrGaMhK95Rd4YPvBcUau9VebQbrih2aJi12d_/s640/blogger-image--1107582883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B8zIC2WqCnEsDl0E5-oqtfhoOEiwRDDSs3eTwa9jn5bH7vQo7YA5DYqSIaRPgJAmmpiud5K7KB-p3BlWBz4vzPvlM0dZ28YAOWuY-56QrGaMhK95Rd4YPvBcUau9VebQbrih2aJi12d_/s640/blogger-image--1107582883.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this was from the place where Diane turned around. Todd kept going another half mile or so. Don't worry--this is one of the most traveled trails in the entire park, so neither Todd nor Diane was ever particularly alone. In fact, at one point on the way down Todd took a tumble, but there was a park ranger right there to make sure he was okay (and he mostly was, although his hand and shoulder kind of hurt now).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was so happy to see my people when they got back. You know, we've been so glued to each other since this trip began, this was one of the first times I've gotten to miss them! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Right after they got back, a thunder storm rolled through, our first rain of any kind since July 6! There was a lot of thunder and lightening, but the whole thing couldn't have lasted more than 15 minutes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We drove up to Signal Mountain because Diane and Todd were flithy and needed showers and to do laundry, and once that was done, we decided it was time to leave the beautiful Tetons and go on to Idaho.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZApFDPVj2Bde-06UsSwwq-URJAWNmWnjZJZYirLUBqk1yjNT8pFOJetjTZms6BlCVms5kpUSpxElxv5JBVNkOB00_789penPIdlFfL21dLrqs5xK4hr5gmJKr6GJKz84o7T9SYy3sPR5C/s640/blogger-image-495791675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZApFDPVj2Bde-06UsSwwq-URJAWNmWnjZJZYirLUBqk1yjNT8pFOJetjTZms6BlCVms5kpUSpxElxv5JBVNkOB00_789penPIdlFfL21dLrqs5xK4hr5gmJKr6GJKz84o7T9SYy3sPR5C/s640/blogger-image-495791675.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even though I don't get to do much in the national parks, I'm glad we came.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our first attempt to leave Wyoming was thwarted by the Teton Pass, which climbs a 10% grade and is heavily traveled. We tried it, realized pretty quickly it was a recipe for overheating, stopped, took this picture, and headed back to Jackson to take the long way around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAvbIPoOHLdJGiGvZ7emCgGg0UOp35YcftOIchlcvYUa5rwivC3mKqgqGO8hI5i9x606gaiD3MhXgJXpgwWWWh1Dc3gLMAznjA4EsJn9X2MjlVmNpqqTWbi285N358ndu5MjUU9_CoeoQ/s640/blogger-image-1776537223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAvbIPoOHLdJGiGvZ7emCgGg0UOp35YcftOIchlcvYUa5rwivC3mKqgqGO8hI5i9x606gaiD3MhXgJXpgwWWWh1Dc3gLMAznjA4EsJn9X2MjlVmNpqqTWbi285N358ndu5MjUU9_CoeoQ/s640/blogger-image-1776537223.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was a long drive to Idaho Falls and Walmart where we planned to sleep, and as usual, we got no early start on it, but we did have some incredible views of the moon over the Snake River as we drove. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Idaho was dark and empty. We drove along Alpine Lake, and except for a few times when the moon lit up the water, we didn't see anything. At least we arrived in Idaho Falls around 11:30 PM and we all dropped to sleep right away. We would've probably gotten a great night's sleep if the jets of water from lawn sprinklers hadn't started pounding against the sides of the Big Rolling Crate in the middle in the night. Still, it was a small disturbance and the back and one side got nice and clean of all the dust we've been carrying since Colorado. </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-74491186533683182652016-07-21T19:25:00.003-04:002016-07-21T19:28:24.487-04:00Travelogue -- Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjhyphenhyphen9deXWcWI81WT-mLTi6gRyHJMj-x-ns76t9XYWz2YR0XcVErJ86GqJH3b0qz8T8cGCXBRDEf7N46AF5CYFWHKyMt_B-8YpkL3TYxRYMPEIdx7HoW83JbaXHagoc1_3DX44T4PqdOgn/s640/blogger-image--1520216419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjhyphenhyphen9deXWcWI81WT-mLTi6gRyHJMj-x-ns76t9XYWz2YR0XcVErJ86GqJH3b0qz8T8cGCXBRDEf7N46AF5CYFWHKyMt_B-8YpkL3TYxRYMPEIdx7HoW83JbaXHagoc1_3DX44T4PqdOgn/s640/blogger-image--1520216419.jpg"></a></div><br></div>July 18. We drove to the moon! Okay, not the actual moon, but the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, which is as close to the moon as I ever need to get. I don't know if you can tell in this picture, but behind the Big Rolling Crate are a lot black rocks. Those are lava rocks. This area once was a great flow of lava and now what's left behind kind of looks like the moon. Of course, as the kid at the picnic table next to ours pointed out at lunch, there are no plants on the moon, but still, it does have an other-worldly look about it.<div><br></div><div>Let me tell you, we are learning a lot of geology on this adventure. Everywhere we stop seems to be some unique geological wonder. The Badlands. Rocky Mountain National Park. Split Rock. The Tetons. Hell's Half Acre (more lava rocks we saw earlier today). </div><div><br></div><div>But I have to say, this is by far the ugliest of them. It's just a bunch of black rocks and black cinder heaps called cones, and once again, I can't go anywhere, and why would I want to anyway?</div><div><br></div><div>We ate lunch at picnic tables in some rare pockets of shade in a grassy patch where there was a big sign that said:</div><div><br></div><div>"No pets on grass. You can walk your pet along the edge of the parking lot or road." </div><div><br></div><div>And Todd jokes, "Why don't they add, 'And shoot it for all we care,'" because that's the general national park/national monument attitude towards pets. I sat quietly under the table in the grass and shade, and nobody seemed the mind, despite the sign. It would've been too hot in the Big Rolling Crate and no way were Diane and Todd going to pace up and down the hot road under the relentless sun.</div><div><br></div><div>Actually, Diane and I have written our last three blog posts from a nice shady picnic table while Todd is off exploring caves. The wind here is incessant and strong, so it's like we're at the beach except instead of waves there's just a sea of black rocks that was once a sea of lava. This place might not be worth the stop unless you really love lava rocks and caves.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0EmcI6pLAhoX1bJe7TOO1_Nc-b5lAnYB3Px6AsL80F8OQAudp-J98bEp9Q-817EXqKrBp-bRlpdUCbMV9xVXJSa16MN3xYpcP2B1IQAIRjmpUtU9hXdzO7zpAxoHLb0vrKn_ZKjU6wNG/s640/blogger-image--2129276165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0EmcI6pLAhoX1bJe7TOO1_Nc-b5lAnYB3Px6AsL80F8OQAudp-J98bEp9Q-817EXqKrBp-bRlpdUCbMV9xVXJSa16MN3xYpcP2B1IQAIRjmpUtU9hXdzO7zpAxoHLb0vrKn_ZKjU6wNG/s640/blogger-image--2129276165.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's a dead tree on some lava rocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHzucyoxiEgoPfZwGMnws1lED0aXtvERQyd6zrD-Km_pOZAxb-G6RCCc-Gj-FHfI4U1gtVcm0H-Q3ydz_XA3oOaeKjgItvhdjlXeF-qnspY4IY9PN8InZW732_NtOTLgxCeqMfor7MYk7/s640/blogger-image--1304298973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHzucyoxiEgoPfZwGMnws1lED0aXtvERQyd6zrD-Km_pOZAxb-G6RCCc-Gj-FHfI4U1gtVcm0H-Q3ydz_XA3oOaeKjgItvhdjlXeF-qnspY4IY9PN8InZW732_NtOTLgxCeqMfor7MYk7/s640/blogger-image--1304298973.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And here are some lava rocks up close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-gsvAQMqYdOPxD7Gl03uuMAdA3D7UR_h3u_bARkAhffaAJ42rnxhyphenhyphen8DnTik_P064LIifo8UHgLi4UWUCB5r7E8Zym2OCzkYSg8FjDcf9_DwipdNTbX_aqt5yiOXwzo2GwEo2A6hgR5tJ/s640/blogger-image-2068187321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-gsvAQMqYdOPxD7Gl03uuMAdA3D7UR_h3u_bARkAhffaAJ42rnxhyphenhyphen8DnTik_P064LIifo8UHgLi4UWUCB5r7E8Zym2OCzkYSg8FjDcf9_DwipdNTbX_aqt5yiOXwzo2GwEo2A6hgR5tJ/s640/blogger-image-2068187321.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this is a cinder cone that Todd walked up. Why? Who knows. Diane went about half way, decided it wasn't worth the effort, and came back down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We aren't really sure where we'll go next, but it does seem the plan to get to the pacific, which had previously been abandoned, is now a possibility again. We shall see. We have a little less than a week until we need to turn around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are getting very good at camping. Tonight will be our 7th consecutive night in the Big Rolling Crate, our longest stretch without a hotel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">PS. Todd says the caves were the coolest part of Craters of the Moon. </div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-74352285891036311342016-07-21T19:25:00.001-04:002016-07-21T19:25:39.490-04:00Travelogue -- Shoshone National Forest<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq7jMqe-JkurLJtw1pkH4wfZmIqzy6r_X-x2VtuauDuADtFDSWmrpK6T5I6QW5HxXJTzuvDoqzowJRCEFTKkIJqjpKTIQy9Iv2K1JaqPu5avGzzKiu0utnzrsvwXYhLS6rd_vhOlxaKLB/s640/blogger-image--1454690121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq7jMqe-JkurLJtw1pkH4wfZmIqzy6r_X-x2VtuauDuADtFDSWmrpK6T5I6QW5HxXJTzuvDoqzowJRCEFTKkIJqjpKTIQy9Iv2K1JaqPu5avGzzKiu0utnzrsvwXYhLS6rd_vhOlxaKLB/s640/blogger-image--1454690121.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Diane is really mad right now because she just wrote a whole long post for me about the Shoshone National Forest and then her iPad froze and it got erased and she says she's not writing it all over again. Instead we're going to give you the short version:<div><br></div><div>On Friday, July 15, after we left our lovely Sinks Canyon campsite, we drove up into Shoshone National Forest on a beautifully scenic road that began paved and wound its way up with hairpins and switchbacks to an elevation of over 9,000 feet. From there the went along a ride with small ups and downs and became dirt road.</div><div><br></div><div>Even though it was dirt and narrow and had steep drop offs to the side sometimes, there were tons of people driving it in both directions. At one point, we were going down and an RV was coming up, and it was a tense moment and we figured out how to get past each other.</div><div><br></div><div>We drove as far as a high pass where Todd parked the Big Rolling Crate and he and I took a walk to an old CCC overlook. Diane didn't come because it was buggy there and she hates bugs. She stayed in the Big Rolling Crate and read until we got back.</div><div><br></div><div>The hike wasn't long but the overlook was scary! It was basically really old stone steps the side of a cliff. Todd was scared for me, and his fear made me afraid, but we took our time and were careful and everything was fine.</div><div><br></div><div>On the drive back down, we stopped at a stream to swim. The water was freezing!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO3jJctMACVg5tmFy9pAr3eMt5Ej1UG_15O2pZbe8TXxB_4bxY6mkp0hCgo7mtJaRWi7UpnO8PgZ6Zp1nX1hTymi8ZgacwL_rXVhUvz3Fg_uhKCwPNhpKB9GlZ5itYXtx3u8HINQwUcDf/s640/blogger-image--1062548604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO3jJctMACVg5tmFy9pAr3eMt5Ej1UG_15O2pZbe8TXxB_4bxY6mkp0hCgo7mtJaRWi7UpnO8PgZ6Zp1nX1hTymi8ZgacwL_rXVhUvz3Fg_uhKCwPNhpKB9GlZ5itYXtx3u8HINQwUcDf/s640/blogger-image--1062548604.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From there, we drove back to Lander for a late lunch. Diane and Todd went to a restaurant called Gannett Grill and had really nice hamburgers. Even though I couldn't go to the restaurant, I know it was good because they brought me a doggy bag and I had hamburger in my dinner for the next two days. It was delicious!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From Lander, we headed towards the Tetons with the plan to camp in the northern part of Shoshone National Forest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We drove a long time through the Wind River Indian reservation. After we crossed the reservation, we stopped at a public river access for a quick dip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWno-bKi5a6nU_NV7oRXBdv2Fu10jYpB30LM-GOXKO715akp3_R3zzziV-reZ1Bfw6J02VbVUsMNEE4zW2JDoBQpU6eJtr0PT4UJrN_n_hax-oud_LJi-ICclVNj81ediCI0Phls2nz5oY/s640/blogger-image-1514459724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWno-bKi5a6nU_NV7oRXBdv2Fu10jYpB30LM-GOXKO715akp3_R3zzziV-reZ1Bfw6J02VbVUsMNEE4zW2JDoBQpU6eJtr0PT4UJrN_n_hax-oud_LJi-ICclVNj81ediCI0Phls2nz5oY/s640/blogger-image-1514459724.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There wasn't much in the way of towns on the whole drive, but as we got into the National Forest, we did see this sign:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiTMFk89r35Ex_wb2hSaPLXn9Jq_sF3WUUAHAsF_-sQWSAakaWhVo9pC1E6De0d2BNUgwVjjVnl2G2Xar2jtKduPHMUR8HfQgX0WY0VrehwCLAA_7BRJOl6dUHo8yaSOO6bJ-k-vOHcwC/s640/blogger-image-514880353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiTMFk89r35Ex_wb2hSaPLXn9Jq_sF3WUUAHAsF_-sQWSAakaWhVo9pC1E6De0d2BNUgwVjjVnl2G2Xar2jtKduPHMUR8HfQgX0WY0VrehwCLAA_7BRJOl6dUHo8yaSOO6bJ-k-vOHcwC/s640/blogger-image-514880353.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The northern part of the forest was a lot different from the southern part. The Southern part had these rolling hills with lots of boulders and outcrops. The northern part had very steep, pointy, rocky peaks and tall, narrow pines. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We spent the night at the Falls Campground, which wasn't as nice as Sinks, but was a good place for one night and got us pretty close to Grand Teton National Park. Here are some pictures from our campsite:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqe3GRoUgL4PgjA5ad2sEWqe1hwf1zEdvt4RxVcJZ6jslxktp_OGNJ4j3Hc00tX8L8RPc0cACKaERgmDjR38TELb1issG-_jdmKBznku5fzPmOcACeWrszBMOcJEjmDarNKHOZYm7IBML/s640/blogger-image-2076855800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqe3GRoUgL4PgjA5ad2sEWqe1hwf1zEdvt4RxVcJZ6jslxktp_OGNJ4j3Hc00tX8L8RPc0cACKaERgmDjR38TELb1issG-_jdmKBznku5fzPmOcACeWrszBMOcJEjmDarNKHOZYm7IBML/s640/blogger-image-2076855800.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane likes being at a campground, as opposed to dispersed camping, because there are tables, fire pits, bear safes, and bathrooms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRmLXC3MIJom1MxjH50LGFGdencASuviXm1Kw_Zqmz5Owb7gXl-o7tO8Yv5MyToJlAFIT6KCmHLt_l-xV8Z917bCJvqYC3xfPQ0gXsYZSYIrR9ZfIuWIBSfpU3649E2xsieQ8A-ujUuZi/s640/blogger-image-523343538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRmLXC3MIJom1MxjH50LGFGdencASuviXm1Kw_Zqmz5Owb7gXl-o7tO8Yv5MyToJlAFIT6KCmHLt_l-xV8Z917bCJvqYC3xfPQ0gXsYZSYIrR9ZfIuWIBSfpU3649E2xsieQ8A-ujUuZi/s640/blogger-image-523343538.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd heated up some leftover pizza over the fire. It got very cold in the night, so it was nice to have a fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r86dnBY_7Odc7SLAZP55JZHeTlAtHWF0vsO-5gB5eWo6EYvxaDakZZ9yREyq19rlo3HDEceRYJfMd322m07nmcKGHcNJbm2YrX-89MF_pbFWrp8g4zmNmEvk1vdyBcBizJc-Prk5oQ4W/s640/blogger-image--1249947215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r86dnBY_7Odc7SLAZP55JZHeTlAtHWF0vsO-5gB5eWo6EYvxaDakZZ9yREyq19rlo3HDEceRYJfMd322m07nmcKGHcNJbm2YrX-89MF_pbFWrp8g4zmNmEvk1vdyBcBizJc-Prk5oQ4W/s640/blogger-image--1249947215.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Except, I am kind of afraid of open fires, so whenever we have one, I go sit far away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There were tons of holes in the field behind me here. At first we thought they were from prairie dogs, but when Diane finally got a good look at the critters that kept popping up, we realized they were somethings else, maybe pika. Whatever they were, I could have played whack-a-mole with them all night long if only Diane and Todd had let me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8hVOdcKGv9k5PxGkSmVfObPdAsxAe8jVs5x5G_DVU8NEWBk4tSUn8LfO3gSCiCR0Idqt_SF_RifANL0iMrFarU7yWANa5bswCfeBv29k69L3b42PFo4drI00NgDyLxJcAnBeKd-ZjgwA/s640/blogger-image--1117441612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8hVOdcKGv9k5PxGkSmVfObPdAsxAe8jVs5x5G_DVU8NEWBk4tSUn8LfO3gSCiCR0Idqt_SF_RifANL0iMrFarU7yWANa5bswCfeBv29k69L3b42PFo4drI00NgDyLxJcAnBeKd-ZjgwA/s640/blogger-image--1117441612.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last of the day's sun on the clouds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx52gtxEK4F2LHVtKzL9UhPfxHbast1gjc7Cl-XmaPilankyUcJbRFL32AVTPetE2Rm_9kleet_doDAHwXF_UQnHq9kTjAC_FOHbwxUHrJwzo-B45mFRhUtXzkvipaqURe8xO56RiI5QT/s640/blogger-image-940651238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx52gtxEK4F2LHVtKzL9UhPfxHbast1gjc7Cl-XmaPilankyUcJbRFL32AVTPetE2Rm_9kleet_doDAHwXF_UQnHq9kTjAC_FOHbwxUHrJwzo-B45mFRhUtXzkvipaqURe8xO56RiI5QT/s640/blogger-image-940651238.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the moon on the rise.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-67697845127316325822016-07-17T22:15:00.001-04:002016-07-17T22:15:57.860-04:00Travelogue -- Sinks Canyon State Park, WY<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl24dpxtiW79yRfo_9lCq9d173DB8mmXXH7MuK20DjMyqR9j8zVAQsec4IibBFBfbRgMuTb4AXychAl-maflcynbCR3ZaCw1ZQ23KbeEFn6XiHdufCPrDyvQsquToNnKDmCOZN2LrnmYb/s640/blogger-image-347760226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl24dpxtiW79yRfo_9lCq9d173DB8mmXXH7MuK20DjMyqR9j8zVAQsec4IibBFBfbRgMuTb4AXychAl-maflcynbCR3ZaCw1ZQ23KbeEFn6XiHdufCPrDyvQsquToNnKDmCOZN2LrnmYb/s640/blogger-image-347760226.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"The Sinks" of <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sinks Canyon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_ubuJS5cNQyGDBNIoJhmk55DX0ysVCqBm8Fmt_DiQS6xap6ld6rGEQgbDAYv3wl-cpFQYvMksRED2KoOAxcH_kDzkbMWHo_uGU3EB1Ii_oyQY7LCyHndX9-stHJZw7TXkA3Sh3s71GvI/s640/blogger-image--1756831785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_ubuJS5cNQyGDBNIoJhmk55DX0ysVCqBm8Fmt_DiQS6xap6ld6rGEQgbDAYv3wl-cpFQYvMksRED2KoOAxcH_kDzkbMWHo_uGU3EB1Ii_oyQY7LCyHndX9-stHJZw7TXkA3Sh3s71GvI/s640/blogger-image--1756831785.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the Rise of the Popo Agie</div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>From Boulder, we took I-25 North into Wyoming, retracing our steps from last week towards Cheyenne. We had researched various cheap campgrounds and Walmarts where we might sleep and planned to get about halfway to Grand Teton National Park, our next intended destination, but as we drove past a climbing area whose name Todd recognized we got sidetracked. Diane was driving, so Todd took the opportunity to do some research and concluded we should stop and consider camping so they could climb in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>We stopped at a rest area whose claim to fame is that it is the highest point on all of I-80, a road that crosses the entire country! The elevation was 8,600 feet. We weren't really in the mountains at that point, but rather on the high plains. </div><div><br></div><div>Todd did some more research and concluded that the climbing area he had first considered would be too hard for Diane, who is just a beginner at climbing, but he found an easier one in Laramie, which was only 10 miles down the road, so we drove to the Walmart there to sleep for the night.</div><div><br></div><div>It got very cold overnight and we all woke up feeling very chilly. We weren't that far from Boulder and yet we were in a whole different climate.</div><div><br></div><div>After Diane had fallen asleep the night before, Todd had done more research and decided the climbing area in Laramie was no good either, so we got a nice early start towards the Grand Tetons. As we drove, Diane and Todd were really excited to cross the Continental Divide not once by twice! We skipped crossing it in Colorado, but now we've had the experience.</div><div><br></div><div>Late morning, we took a break at a national historical marker at a place called Split Rock. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Split Rock is a massive, rocky hill that rises from the plain. It earned its historical marker by being a landmark used by travelers on the Oregon Trail, who would travel along the rocks for an entire day on their way West, and who could see the rock behind them for two more days as they continued on the trail. Split Rock was also a station on the pony express.</span></div><div><br></div><div>After a good stretch of the legs at Split Rock, Diane had the brilliant idea that Todd should call his friend Ben, who has spent several seasons in Jackson Hole, to get some suggestions of places we might go on our way to the Tetons, and he suggested Sinks Canyon State Park, which is in Lander, WY, about 130 miles from Grand Teton National Park. </div><div><br></div><div>We took Ben's advice (Thanks, Ben!), and for once we got to our campsite early in the day! We arrived at it was only about 3:30 on July 13. we scouted out the campground and choose a nice site in the Popo Agie Camping Area.</div><div><br></div><div>The camping area is what is described as "primitive sites," meaning there's no electricity or plumbing, but it is very nice. There's a good flat spot to park the Big Rolling Crate, a big picnic table, a fire ring, and a designated area for a tent. There are composting toilets here and a well for water, but no showers or any other sort of facilities. It's really the best of both worlds--campground meets Boondock. </div><div><br></div><div>There are twenty or so sites here, but they are arranged to be fairly private and even though they are closer together than the dispersed camping sites we used on Colorado, this is a much quieter place with a more peaceful vibe. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvedubZbz9nB8v-3jxz3pw6sN7GwiaxFpvktp6c3r6bQpuZsliogl4iDPXwByJytF3BYXC9J9tKh-RxWRDXABJIdTS45o2UfdXaU87lMZHxiLJYcpf2PYiCqrjlO8Rhn3rHignotRtzual/s640/blogger-image--417428246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvedubZbz9nB8v-3jxz3pw6sN7GwiaxFpvktp6c3r6bQpuZsliogl4iDPXwByJytF3BYXC9J9tKh-RxWRDXABJIdTS45o2UfdXaU87lMZHxiLJYcpf2PYiCqrjlO8Rhn3rHignotRtzual/s640/blogger-image--417428246.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our campsite</div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Popo Agie (pronounced Po-Po-shuh) River flows right behind our campsite, and there's a swinging suspension bridge for pedestrians to cross the river to a nature trail and a climbing area. I was highly uncertain about the bridge and had to walk very slowly and cautiously, but I made it and the walk on the other side was worth it.</div><div><br></div><div>Downstream the Popo Agie flows through what's called the "sink," hence the name "Sinks Canyon," and into a pool called "the rise."</div><div><br></div><div>Geologically, the sink and the rise and very strange. At the sink, the river disappears into a narrow, unexplorable cave. A quarter-mile down the hill, it emerges again at the rise. Here's the wacky part: It takes the water--which is a fast-flowing, rushing stream--two hours to make its way through the cave and back out, even though it's only a quarter-mile! Even stranger, more water comes out of the rise than goes into the sink! No one knows where. It was only relatively recently in history that it was proven that the sink empties into the rise. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm1n0hEVCid0JLSDjQkkmuIJiFyvRH7Djbq1I5SMajlJvKjnQ7NBAZi9ajwiamJVmMpLTJrtPGt3EHg4ECmykrMwpSJnqa4NGUqIsHepbtPs03853HAM43rHMhzwJxi1nzbrrbkCjM13L/s640/blogger-image-1607379954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm1n0hEVCid0JLSDjQkkmuIJiFyvRH7Djbq1I5SMajlJvKjnQ7NBAZi9ajwiamJVmMpLTJrtPGt3EHg4ECmykrMwpSJnqa4NGUqIsHepbtPs03853HAM43rHMhzwJxi1nzbrrbkCjM13L/s640/blogger-image-1607379954.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Popo Agie from the pedestrian bridge</div><br></div><div><br></div><div>After we settled into our camp, we went out and explored the nature trail, which was quite beautiful, and we checked out the climbing area where two groups of climbers were doing their thing. They gave Todd advice about which routes would be good for out-of-towners like us, particularly since Diane's only experience so far is in the climbing gym and top roping, and then we made our way back to camp for a delicious dinner of macaroni and cheese with broccoli and bratwurst. Diane dinner and Todd washed the dishes afterwards, and it was the most peaceful evening we've spent since our second night in our Colorado Boondock. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j3BNPrgV9pjb_ZiXz2mdrmP_TSBcEYyhyphenhypheny8o91gb2enZLAwgw_i6LNudhYZ7qojlVl2TPCKr1NnlEabKx9rpHh-w8IFZZSXPmD1RXxaDUXE4nHQEiufpe5_cSXD7kD0tK6Hf3af2HdiQ/s640/blogger-image-808045044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j3BNPrgV9pjb_ZiXz2mdrmP_TSBcEYyhyphenhypheny8o91gb2enZLAwgw_i6LNudhYZ7qojlVl2TPCKr1NnlEabKx9rpHh-w8IFZZSXPmD1RXxaDUXE4nHQEiufpe5_cSXD7kD0tK6Hf3af2HdiQ/s640/blogger-image-808045044.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd doing the dishes.</div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We had thought we'd stay here one night, but it's so nice--and so cheap! Only $11 a night--that we're going to stay for two instead. This morning (Thursday, 7/14), we had pancakes and bacon and lounged in the cool morning air, and I think we could stay here a long time and that would be just fine with me.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXXJpKxPGl3tkhoBiqMDIbWgF920tOmfPEhKtmXfuCCfASvRLPMIip8TzEDFxWtJEYVDZjUYZpJwpRzR5248XokutPTtgtHcAStIFetN-HMga_kaFXUeVC5g55FBYYRsMPHJE6sxcWV6_/s640/blogger-image--492864217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXXJpKxPGl3tkhoBiqMDIbWgF920tOmfPEhKtmXfuCCfASvRLPMIip8TzEDFxWtJEYVDZjUYZpJwpRzR5248XokutPTtgtHcAStIFetN-HMga_kaFXUeVC5g55FBYYRsMPHJE6sxcWV6_/s640/blogger-image--492864217.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was only in the 50s this morning, but Diane warmed up with some hot coffee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm6zMo8z3V58g3icdRVvXZVTIv3YRFzTmMyzo-xsTZyNJRJwyx2WN9KP3ksCi8GKb3cfuXnDov0gs3AAfqEyMwwgPOgghKp2bMS2jczqr021QTAUT3UkehatQQ2wp5HrP3ugaKSpZ-zRS/s640/blogger-image-1085608831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm6zMo8z3V58g3icdRVvXZVTIv3YRFzTmMyzo-xsTZyNJRJwyx2WN9KP3ksCi8GKb3cfuXnDov0gs3AAfqEyMwwgPOgghKp2bMS2jczqr021QTAUT3UkehatQQ2wp5HrP3ugaKSpZ-zRS/s640/blogger-image-1085608831.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the river right behind our campsite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2utsGC_iMMylZPBipHVJnUwvdrK0bMHTnJ9TTVCoOZXjuh9yNW0A2S71lEQGR8_kDa_cKUFwulKgYOs-fjgaVQhyphenhyphenPdvo6lzEyKrqs9KHdxk7wqmtB5Q9TnfZ64drPQeveCs-yvuO3BLN/s640/blogger-image--2052475720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2utsGC_iMMylZPBipHVJnUwvdrK0bMHTnJ9TTVCoOZXjuh9yNW0A2S71lEQGR8_kDa_cKUFwulKgYOs-fjgaVQhyphenhyphenPdvo6lzEyKrqs9KHdxk7wqmtB5Q9TnfZ64drPQeveCs-yvuO3BLN/s640/blogger-image--2052475720.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">None of us have ever seen flowers like these before, but the big bees really like them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2xQVoUtN501_F7xj3JBfAL4Ov-3mDWjZUhHqH6nFjQQxIeEDDM8DPG34fQ4mFPcXyxA5xSI6h6fEN3PAPp-P-8HSLJ2dD5ygG0Q-t6ZL-FjbaVpccxq9rRmTIMkmm8zaGEh1z8Pv8RDB/s640/blogger-image--825166913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2xQVoUtN501_F7xj3JBfAL4Ov-3mDWjZUhHqH6nFjQQxIeEDDM8DPG34fQ4mFPcXyxA5xSI6h6fEN3PAPp-P-8HSLJ2dD5ygG0Q-t6ZL-FjbaVpccxq9rRmTIMkmm8zaGEh1z8Pv8RDB/s640/blogger-image--825166913.jpg"></a></div></div>As aspen grove we passed on the nature trail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGbvYMjN_hlhyphenhyphenybyKPW3_rl8uy_ClOBoGOjkDpv6WkX3CN1uSIEfLFHsv6PC8JCBxvWsc_5Sga-lay58iVt8297L0g5XaJ-Wn49FoRyHAtefr0yDOSBsc06TTCm-btkpQ5Zwr2l2yyI2T/s640/blogger-image-2058843505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGbvYMjN_hlhyphenhyphenybyKPW3_rl8uy_ClOBoGOjkDpv6WkX3CN1uSIEfLFHsv6PC8JCBxvWsc_5Sga-lay58iVt8297L0g5XaJ-Wn49FoRyHAtefr0yDOSBsc06TTCm-btkpQ5Zwr2l2yyI2T/s640/blogger-image-2058843505.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The view looking out the door of the Big Rolling Crate towards one of the climbing areas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8wkEKikbsesZQQ-V_SclEB8TjlRoQz55H1HYIvSKZFDpXNFecP5o3hXToQhgqMI0Xi53Xz5SQINvypAY2Y8rgdvKs2dCwkUALwPmwPUZg1XNTDvZ-xsFHXMHpTy8YWp0Ml-BC-SbWcF0/s640/blogger-image--1202642958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8wkEKikbsesZQQ-V_SclEB8TjlRoQz55H1HYIvSKZFDpXNFecP5o3hXToQhgqMI0Xi53Xz5SQINvypAY2Y8rgdvKs2dCwkUALwPmwPUZg1XNTDvZ-xsFHXMHpTy8YWp0Ml-BC-SbWcF0/s640/blogger-image--1202642958.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane, working on our blog.</div><br></span></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-75687168079821089722016-07-17T22:11:00.001-04:002016-07-17T22:11:07.973-04:00Travelogue -- 44 Hours in Boulder, CO<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0isLwrNyCcaSRXW9ts9egntU1gLqcGQG1UlWpnfMr8nAIzUB57yzZ4xYVFYpZmH-l7E0lGqfxHD43dEbBsEi5eUzip9lMCM3Z1usrozb9LsxXAuNVldLXOx3GNn3dLtBirsl8TWcXBhv/s640/blogger-image-415993321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0isLwrNyCcaSRXW9ts9egntU1gLqcGQG1UlWpnfMr8nAIzUB57yzZ4xYVFYpZmH-l7E0lGqfxHD43dEbBsEi5eUzip9lMCM3Z1usrozb9LsxXAuNVldLXOx3GNn3dLtBirsl8TWcXBhv/s640/blogger-image-415993321.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>As I explained in my last post, Sunday, July 10, we were evactuated from our lovely campsite in the Gross Reservoir/Winiger Ranger area due to a forest fire. We'd already been planning to stay at the Boulder University Inn on Monday night, and luckily our room was available for Sunday, too, so we checked in around 8:30 or so Sunday night.</div><div><br></div><div>To be honest, I much prefer camping to staying in a hotel, and I suppose it's no surprise that I like to be in the country more than in a city, so I was a bit reluctant to go inside the hotel. In a hotel, there are so many unfamiliar human smells and sounds and people making noise in the hall and the rooms next door. It can be overwhelming for a shy dog such as myself. Diane and Todd seem to find the air-conditioning to be a nice sort of white noise machine, but I hate it. The constant rattling! Have you seen my ears? What sounds pleasant and soothing to people can seem very loud to me. </div><div><br></div><div>Still, it was nice to see Diane and Todd relax a little after our harrowing evacuation and drive back to civilization. When they are relaxed, I can relax, and also, they ordered pepperoni pizza Sunday night, and pepperoni is one of my favorite foods, so that helped me feel at home.</div><div><br></div><div>As far as cities go, it's hard to imagine a better one for a dog than Boulder, especially since our hotel backed right up against Boulder Creek Path and a park. We could walk out the back stairs and right onto the nice, soft, green grass along the creek, which was ideal for me. There are few things in life I enjoy more than nice, soft, green grass. </div><div><br></div><div>It took me a minute to get used to all the people in the park. There were people sitting in groups, and other people in sleeping bags, and some people just sprawled out in the grass. It was hard to tell which people were just chilling for a while and which ones actually lived in the park, but all of them pretty much ignored me. As anyone who has ever met me can attest, my favorite people are the ones who ignore me, so it all worked out fine.</div><div><br></div><div>Probably the best thing about the park area, in my humble opinion, was the large amount of food people had left in the grass. Half a hamburger here, a crust of pizza there, bones from chicken wings here, a spilled out can of chickpeas there. I could have spent the rest of my life scavenging that park for tasty treats and been a happy dog. Diane, old kill-joy that she is, didn't let me, though. Still, I'll be dreaming of that lawn full of snacks for a long time.</div><div><br></div><div>Since I wasn't allowed to partake in the ground-food, I guess I'd have to say my favorite thing was swimming in the creek. I got to swim in it both days we were in Boulder. It was so cold and refreshing after the hot, dry, dusty campground. Even though there were lots of people wading and tubing and even a good number of other dogs around, I found the creek very relaxing.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBP34wRhJCYkqucZnbmNB9437UPxzc2dioAG_iIjEhzMptiJZbnRZ2ZfIThxtTS51jaxWgdi3ESZb5g8uG8w95qsZ6ahlRyKlLxJM5ksw7xuY8aaseodv_kM_X5hbT3M2sIxJXM2Vmlrx/s640/blogger-image--1198330367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBP34wRhJCYkqucZnbmNB9437UPxzc2dioAG_iIjEhzMptiJZbnRZ2ZfIThxtTS51jaxWgdi3ESZb5g8uG8w95qsZ6ahlRyKlLxJM5ksw7xuY8aaseodv_kM_X5hbT3M2sIxJXM2Vmlrx/s640/blogger-image--1198330367.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Monday afternoon, after I had had a walk in the park and a swim in the creek, and after Todd had found a garage that could service the Big Rolling Crate (no small feat! He had to try 8 garages before he found one that could handle putting a 9,000+lb vehicle on a lift), Diane and Todd left me to nap in the hotel while they did what the locals do: Rode their bikes.</div><div><br></div><div>Diane wants Jeanne Depasse to know that her old bike did a great job on the bike paths of Boulder, and she's so grateful to have it! Thanks, Jeanne! </div><div><br></div><div>They rode on the Boulder Creek Path and also in the bike lanes of some streets. Boulder is such a bike-friendly city that Diane says she wasn't even nervous to ride on some of the bigger streets. Their ride took them up Pearl Street, which is a shopping area where several blocks are closed to cars. They tell me I would have hated it, and I believe them, but Todd really enjoyed the kite shop.</div><div><br></div><div>After riding bikes, they took a quick dip in the hotel pool and then went to meet their brother-in-law Ian for dinner. He took them to a place called Rueben's. I was very sorry to miss out on the hamburgers. Diane and Todd came back smelling so yummy and didn't bring me any leftovers! Sometimes those two are real jerks.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday morning, Todd rode his bike over to the garage to pick up the Big Rolling Crate, which was all tuned up and ready. It turns out we didn't blow a shock off-reading! The fluid Todd saw that he thought came from the shock was actually some sort of differential something or other that had apparently been overfilled last time Todd had work done on truck. Still we were all reassured to have had everything looked over and the Big Rolling Crate seemed very happy as we drove off after the oil change.</div><div><br></div><div>Now that we had our wheels back, we drove up Boulder Mountain to Flagstaff Summit where we took a one-mile loop trail to beautiful vistas. Boulder looks really nice when seen from above, I must admit. It's like a green oasis on the edge of the plains that sweep up to the foothills where we were hiking. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjntlM_B2bbon_njNDVCPs-zmtZewfl62TTCFQiuSf6oynp3sw1jT1gSjXEe4S9jh1QhuvgZUkZaKuV1cfglS0THCQiI9shQqcP-FnentRwnstDJLGhqQSK9UC1VyS49myTPCuAqReRmaH/s640/blogger-image-1108240755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjntlM_B2bbon_njNDVCPs-zmtZewfl62TTCFQiuSf6oynp3sw1jT1gSjXEe4S9jh1QhuvgZUkZaKuV1cfglS0THCQiI9shQqcP-FnentRwnstDJLGhqQSK9UC1VyS49myTPCuAqReRmaH/s640/blogger-image-1108240755.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Todd did a little bouldering and we disappointed that Diane didn't want to try rock climbing, but it was very hot out and she wasn't feeling well. We drove back down into town and parked at Settler's Park to check out the tubing scene in Boulder Creek. </div><div><br></div><div>The path along the creek out there is like a beach. There are people everywhere! People carrying tubes up stream. People sitting in lawn chairs watching tubes float down. People playing guitar. People snoozing in hammocks slung between trees. People having picnics. So many people! It made me pretty nervous, but I was on my best behavior because I didn't want to miss out on anything.</div><div><br></div><div>We didn't have a tube with us, so we just waded a little and walked up the stream for a while. Then, Todd worked up the nerve to ask someone if he could borrow a tube for a quick ride. My nervousness then went from 9/10 to 11/10. How could I possibly fulfill my duties to protect Todd from all dangers, real and imagined, if he was in a tube in the middle of a very fast-moving and deep stream and I was on the bank, leashed to Diane?! My only consolation was that we could walk down the bank in sync with Todd as he drift by. Twice he went over little shutes where the tube came up under him and flipped him off backwards and I nearly had to jump in and rescue him, but by and by he got the hang of it.</div><div><br></div><div>We left Boulder around 4:30 in the afternoon, and we were all pretty happy to get back on the road. It was fun to visit a city where there are so many outdoors activities to do, but the goal of this trip is to commune with the wilderness, which is why we headed North, back to Wyoming.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-7346736965903072162016-07-11T10:33:00.001-04:002016-07-11T10:33:01.613-04:00A Colorado Forest Fire and a Camping Trip Cut Short<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX91P2i4umCCywYH9kSspQo9S_8qRoukWcSRnD6jEP5YXHw4pAqEK7G1XxjSRkRa1gXQGODLCvjGhIEK3prVRIWLutmz-egGZQwEvmvAGVDtaYGMsJ03-PkKBJ0-SWQjMCEcns1VuH7wMQ/s640/blogger-image-1098825457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX91P2i4umCCywYH9kSspQo9S_8qRoukWcSRnD6jEP5YXHw4pAqEK7G1XxjSRkRa1gXQGODLCvjGhIEK3prVRIWLutmz-egGZQwEvmvAGVDtaYGMsJ03-PkKBJ0-SWQjMCEcns1VuH7wMQ/s640/blogger-image-1098825457.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In my last post from our dispersed camping site, I think I mentioned that on Saturday afternoon we saw smoke rising in the distance. At that time, we checked with 911 and were told we were safe and there was no need to evacuate. The fire on Saturday was fairly small, 220 or so acres, and it wasn't moving our way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, that wasn't the end of the story. Indeed our Colorado adventure took an unexpected turn on Sunday, but let me back up a little bit first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All afternoon Saturday, Diane followed news of the Cold Springs Fire, or Nederland Fire, on Twitter. Planes and helicopters flew overhead all day long and at some point, we saw this evacuation map.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP0Yxc2sGUP9djay8n49PQna4Ntb_8QtxPQYfRLMhuvXVd2-jDkxhrgcJKH-tjFFNDsuGZH6oEjWx8EkbtTap6gyQ-P60ZJfVkTNlwfafl6iGruqNQcgJYGzpoiwVAu7u8-cHBJduoXJd/s640/blogger-image--1545273673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP0Yxc2sGUP9djay8n49PQna4Ntb_8QtxPQYfRLMhuvXVd2-jDkxhrgcJKH-tjFFNDsuGZH6oEjWx8EkbtTap6gyQ-P60ZJfVkTNlwfafl6iGruqNQcgJYGzpoiwVAu7u8-cHBJduoXJd/s640/blogger-image--1545273673.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Notice in the lower right of the map where it says "Aspen Meadows" and highway 68? We drove on highway 68 to our campsite, right past Aspen Meadows. Still, we weren't "in the zone," and there were literally hundreds of other people in our camping area, none of whom seemed worried, so we didn't worry either.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Around dusk, people starting lighting campfires, which seemed rather risky given the obvious fire danger the weather conditions presented (I was shocked to see campfires Friday, given the windy, dry weather), but each campsite had a fire pit with a grate for cooking, and presumably the fires wouldn't be left unattended. We had planned to have a supper of hot dogs over a fire, so Todd went ahead and made a small campfire for us in our fire ring, and then we turned on the radio and sat back to relax. Todd had no sooner gotten the fire going than we heard a news update on the Cold Springs Fire which included the information that all open burning, including camp fires, were currently banned in Boulder County. We decided to hurry up and cook our hot dogs and then let the fire go out. That was around 8:30ish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Around 10:00, our fire mere embers, we heard a diesel truck chugging up the road through the camping area. We looked out to see front-facing red lights and (because we drive an ambulance and have been told we need to swap out the front-facing red light-covers so as not to appear to be an emergency vehicle) we knew it was some official truck. Turns out it was firefighters hauling water out to enforce the campfire ban. The firefighters were as nice as can be and since our fire was already going out, they continued down the hill towards the larger blazes we could see in the distance. After they left, Todd sped up in extinguishing our fire with water and we went to bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday morning, the sky seemed clearer and we couldn't see any traces of smoke drifting on the horizon, so we didn't think much of the fire, but as the day went on, the number of planes and choppers flying overhead seemed to steadily increase. Once again, Diane kept an eye on things on Twitter, and by early afternoon, she learned the fire had grown to 330 acres.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUVevXfrqrsS_TKM_8f0ofqecsFd2ohV5vaSMYqsI_ygGa3yf6Z3GfKtoidDkUJRKfz_IRubZKsS-6SohFBPu2WH9AeCp8TY2R8C_qdnjhSQdbedrjuNoRT8XW4ebGRLYnp6MKiQ_iijX/s640/blogger-image-1732892259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUVevXfrqrsS_TKM_8f0ofqecsFd2ohV5vaSMYqsI_ygGa3yf6Z3GfKtoidDkUJRKfz_IRubZKsS-6SohFBPu2WH9AeCp8TY2R8C_qdnjhSQdbedrjuNoRT8XW4ebGRLYnp6MKiQ_iijX/s640/blogger-image-1732892259.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Still, we could hardly even smell the fire where we were, and as far as forest fires go, that still counts as fairly small, so we didn't think twice about our plan to stay put until Monday morning. Todd's thought was to drive out in the early morning before the heat of the day for the sake of the Big Rolling Crate's transmission and brakes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All afternoon, we noticed that traffic into the camp area had slowed from earlier in the weekend, and we chalked it up to the fact that it was Sunday afternoon and people were getting ready for the work week. That was probably part of it, but the rest was that, unbeknownst to us, the evacuation zone was being expanded.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then, at 4:30, someone from the sheriff's department rolled up on an ATV with mandatory evacuation orders. Diane went into full panic mode. Meanwhile, Todd was slow and methodical. Diane starting chucking things into the Big Rolling Crate, willy-nilly, while Todd carefully took down tarps and rolled up the parachute line that had held them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All afternoon, Diane had been hanging out with me in the Big Rolling Crate because the bugs were bad today--not enough wind to keep them off like we'd had on Saturday--but now she had no choice to face them and she wasn't one bit happy about. She kept jumping up and down and slapping at flies and then a wasp flew up her pant-leg and stung her twice on the thigh before she could kick the pants off and kill it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In one hour, the entire camp site was cleaned up and everything was packed except the bikes. Diane wanted to Todd to just throw them into the back of the Big Rolling Crate and get the heck out of there, but he wasn't having it. The problem is we don't have a real bike rack. Instead, Todd has to take off the front tires and some of the pedals of both bikes and then he ties them to the back of the Big Rolling Crate. Every time, they go on a little differently because it's a sort of made up system and sometimes it can take a very long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This time Todd decided to try to leave his front wheel on to save time, so he put Diane's bike on first and then tried to add his, but it was a total failure. In the end, it was just about 6:00 when he got it all settled to his liking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The only thing left to do was dump out the solar shower and some jugs of water we'd filled at the reservoir on our walk earlier that day. But Todd wasn't going to let all that hot, ready-to-use water go to waste. Oh no. He'd worked up a fine sweat packing. He wanted a shower. At that point Diane threw a hissy fit and threatened to call 911 and ask them to send someone to get her and me if Todd didn't get his butt in the truck and drive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The real issue was that two days in a row Todd hauled about 5 gallons of water 1.25 miles up hill from the reservoir to camp so we could have enough water to enjoy our stay until Monday. It was a lot of work to go to waste and damn it, even though we were headed to a hotel with a nice hot shower, he was going to use it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So Todd rinsed off and put on clean clothes, apparently following that old grandmotherly advice to make sure you're always wearing clean underwear just in case there's an emergency, and then we set out. After Todd got the go-pro on top of the Big Rolling Crate, that is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The rough and rugged dirt road actually proved no trouble for the Big Rolling Crate when we were in 4-wheel-drive and 1st gear, and Diane and Todd had done a good job securing everything in the back with me so nothing rained down from the cubbies this time. When we got to the end of the dirt road, there were dozens of police cars and someone was being arrested. It was quite a scene. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The flagged us along and we never felt more stupid to be driving an emergency vehicle. We made good time out the smooth dirt road that led us up to a ridge and Magnolia Drive, the road we were most afraid of, even though it was paved. Locals will know why we were afraid. Magnolia drive is insanely steep and twisting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd kept the Big Rolling Crate in 1st gear, kept his foot completely off the gas pedal, and let gravity do its thing. Nonetheless, to ensure we didn't lose our brakes, he stopped every half mile or so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DKulILjkG4Yr-FkpcazMalPPGzRezuEqVgqSxKMIMgrdbXJf8vUZJ3igZACxCPJ5BjrcP0cuTM1wc_PTXCVjZMbRIWOaT0qxWEXTufZEx400MSy3Lv67OWVyI9XHceVyGf-sgoHLamGa/s640/blogger-image--422319635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DKulILjkG4Yr-FkpcazMalPPGzRezuEqVgqSxKMIMgrdbXJf8vUZJ3igZACxCPJ5BjrcP0cuTM1wc_PTXCVjZMbRIWOaT0qxWEXTufZEx400MSy3Lv67OWVyI9XHceVyGf-sgoHLamGa/s640/blogger-image--422319635.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At this stop, Diane looked up and down the hill at the twists and turns and guessed it had to be at least a 7% grade. She was wrong. We no sooner left this spot than we saw this sign:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzvVHMKxEKgppgYdPYMSmGC_TB_wHkOviUCH9A4GZs8jtY3CPTjrxtg3gnVkvHMCfhomrqpFVyIRJE7xYmbyXjxhqerGHsuZ88P8UENKqsFlFpnt0yWJqxqmpfIk-b8BDFNalZkWh6BC2/s640/blogger-image--1788996291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzvVHMKxEKgppgYdPYMSmGC_TB_wHkOviUCH9A4GZs8jtY3CPTjrxtg3gnVkvHMCfhomrqpFVyIRJE7xYmbyXjxhqerGHsuZ88P8UENKqsFlFpnt0yWJqxqmpfIk-b8BDFNalZkWh6BC2/s640/blogger-image--1788996291.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We saw trucks hauling horse trailers up and down this! We saw cars racing by like it was nothing. But we could only take it at about 12 MPH. It was like the worst roller coaster ride of your life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCgU2BDajIRh06H55fawW5qhAiqsTzhUMaRla6dbhVdo0HcwbvPbpiTjiBUpR4vlXf5WQNXTn4VaQKygaCYojao_PRr4Vw2aoHb7UFZ-MjYBZ_iaaoRTFRAcf58u7Kv8GnE1se4hNBXp/s640/blogger-image--361217610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCgU2BDajIRh06H55fawW5qhAiqsTzhUMaRla6dbhVdo0HcwbvPbpiTjiBUpR4vlXf5WQNXTn4VaQKygaCYojao_PRr4Vw2aoHb7UFZ-MjYBZ_iaaoRTFRAcf58u7Kv8GnE1se4hNBXp/s640/blogger-image--361217610.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you know Diane at all, you know how seldom she takes selfies, but she couldn't resist taking this one from one of our brake-cooling stops. Clearly she was no longer thinking straight, because she looks like a bus just hit her.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped before a section of the road Diane and Todd called "the ladder," which they both remembered miserably from the drive up. It is a series of hairpins before you get back out onto the main road and they both terrified of it. Diane suggested Todd consider riding the emergency brake down, and after a moment's consideration he decided to try it. It definitely helped and we made it, finally, to the main road where there were more police since Magnolia Drive was part of the evacuation zone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had planned to stay at a hotel on Monday night, so Diane called to see if we could come a day early. Happily they had room so we went straight there and they were kind enough to waive the pet fee since we'd been evacuated. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We ordered pepperoni pizza and sat in front of the TV watching the local news of the several forest fires burning all over Colorado. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Todd promises our next campsite will be as boring as can be. Diane and I sincerely hope so.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here's one last screenshot, which basically shows that status things when we were evacuated:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBgUELopkiVHj3qcjUfBAKe5sSfqDCTV4J4YRiDOeO1yL744mDSJebvbO8Ye7YPvaxt1fLAdzXq7lpwYUKGvFdfURQ_0Ba1p8_pS54lLMgdrTxYSaTULCh-0-28tRhjU7b4zOAy9Qywqq/s640/blogger-image--1532275804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBgUELopkiVHj3qcjUfBAKe5sSfqDCTV4J4YRiDOeO1yL744mDSJebvbO8Ye7YPvaxt1fLAdzXq7lpwYUKGvFdfURQ_0Ba1p8_pS54lLMgdrTxYSaTULCh-0-28tRhjU7b4zOAy9Qywqq/s640/blogger-image--1532275804.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-61819805486052586122016-07-09T21:06:00.001-04:002016-07-09T21:06:42.293-04:00What's with this blog, anyway?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBWoTANtIvJj1K75jhY75oNu9dptZNcbgoBlh4SdfUr7ZbLRyJi7Stoq_1Ggz18KvqM7GeAEfBuStMPFIsNBcDUUWNVQa_Mh9ROUy2NW48kfHTIwy_L4muc35-omp8AFxuCdKlJSDKzZY/s640/blogger-image--721579008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBWoTANtIvJj1K75jhY75oNu9dptZNcbgoBlh4SdfUr7ZbLRyJi7Stoq_1Ggz18KvqM7GeAEfBuStMPFIsNBcDUUWNVQa_Mh9ROUy2NW48kfHTIwy_L4muc35-omp8AFxuCdKlJSDKzZY/s640/blogger-image--721579008.jpg"></a></div><br></div>You know, I have asked myself more than a few times why Diane and I are keeping this blog. It's kind of a lot of work to keep a travelogue from the road, and in the past few years, Diane has tended to want to pull back from sharing compulsively to social media, so why in the world are we doing this?<div><br></div><div>And I finally think I figured it out. Diane isn't blogging with me because she thinks we're doing something so unusual or interesting, or because she thinks I deserve to be an Internet sensation, but rather because having an assignment helps her to feel brave.</div><div><br></div><div>It's like this. Diane often says that when she's at school and a wasp flies in her classroom, all the boys squeal and squirm and she either totally ignores it or walks up to the wasp and smashes it with a book like she's the bravest person in town. But I know for a fact that Diane is afraid of wasps. She doesn't act afraid at school because she had a job to do, but at home, she squeals and squirms over wasps, too.</div><div><br></div><div>So the blog is sort of like that. If Diane and I are documenting our travels and recording them for all to read, she's now studying the experience from a slight remove and finding it interesting instead of giving into the panic that could easily take over if she let it.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is a short list of things Diane is afraid of:</div><div><br></div><div>*Crashing the Big Rolling Crate</div><div>*The Big Rolling Crate breaking down in an unfortunate location</div><div>*Wildlife, including but not limited to bears, rattlesnakes, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions.</div><div>*Poisonous bugs and plants</div><div>*Thunderstorms</div><div>*Forest Fires</div><div>*Flash floods</div><div><br></div><div>So when you see these fun posts and smiling pictures like the one on this blog, just remember: It ain't all fun and games out here. But it is interesting, at least to us--and we hope you're enjoying, too! Also, we apologize for the numerous typos and we hope you understand that blogs are, by their nature, first drafts, and it's hard to proofread when you're swatting flies and on the lookout for bears.</div><div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-31086426482704591892016-07-09T20:49:00.001-04:002016-07-09T20:51:29.156-04:00Back to Boondocking<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegzOKWr2q-sGxKnZ8JVHkps97Wdpy8F_AaRoM6r8eNOnlzhqqY1lg0eOKEmBO1v1HEEdvsmnmuKkx2ALlJbJ2v-vT4kWJ9tJHmuEgRUAL1atAyq5irnhgr82X0HSuGbBtXu1gedmqB590/s640/blogger-image--717255707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegzOKWr2q-sGxKnZ8JVHkps97Wdpy8F_AaRoM6r8eNOnlzhqqY1lg0eOKEmBO1v1HEEdvsmnmuKkx2ALlJbJ2v-vT4kWJ9tJHmuEgRUAL1atAyq5irnhgr82X0HSuGbBtXu1gedmqB590/s640/blogger-image--717255707.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, Jawed was right and the Internet lied to us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When Todd told Jawed that he wanted to Boondock in CO and get away from people, Jawed told him Colorado was not the place to get away from people. Our experience suggests he knew what he was talking about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When the Internet told us that Gross Reservoir is a hidden gem that's never crowded, we believed it. We should have known better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We arrived at the site where we ended up camping around 8:30 last night. The ride was harrowing. Personally, I do not like off-reading. I don't know if it would be better if I could ride up front with Diane and Todd, but it is no picnic from the back of the Big Rolling Crate. Not all of the cubbies back here have doors and as we bounce along, everything falls down all around me like the world is ending! And then there's the noise and rocking and swaying. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To quote Mark Twain, "Ours was a strange and swaying carriage." (We're listening to the audiobook of "Roughing It," which we are all quite enjoying)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To be honest, the paved road was actually worse in some ways than the dirt road. From the minute we turned onto Magnolia Drive, we were climbing a series of hairpins that were essentially a ladder for cars. Even in first gear, we had to stop four or five times to avoid overheating, and all Diane kept saying was, "Yeah, but even if we get up, we have to come back down!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And Todd said, "What? Do you want to go find some Walmart 30 miles from Boulder?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And Diane said, "Sounds great."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And Todd ignored her and kept driving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Eventually that road came to its high point, but where the descent began, it turned to dirt. All alone the way there were houses and cars kept zipping past us like it was nothing. People in Colorado have some crazy ideas about where to live and what makes a sensible road!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At last we came to the gate into the dispersed camping area, which was where the road turned truly rough. Unlike our Boondock in South Dakota where we could choose our own place to camp, here there are 20 sites that labeled and available first-come, first-served, and our plan was to take the very first thing we came to because we'd all had enough of the crazy driving, but the first site was taken. By an RV! A big bus-sized RV! How did they get that thing up here? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We kept on down the road and passed four or five more occupied camp sites. We also encountered a couple of vehicles who were heading back out. We flagged one of them down to ask if there were any camp sites open or if they were leaving because there were none. Guess what they told us. The camps were all occupied. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was nearly dark, we'd hardly eaten a thing all day, and we were exhausted. No chance in hell were going back tonight. On that we all agreed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We kept on down the road until we came to a large site where three very nice women, students from the University of Colorado, were tent camping. Diane begged them to share and they were super nice and said of course! Since they were only staying one night, and we planned to stay a few, they said they'd happily share. They were our angels and saviors--no exaggeration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They even moved their tent so we'd have a better spot to park the Big Rolling Crate. To thank them, Todd chopped some firewood for them and we gave them some ice since we had more than we needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we finally got the Big Rolling Crate parked, we paused long enough to see the end of sunset:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop9yOfdD6DL7TnqnvQfAeaYMGjOTMIGPhv-9O1-TB4WxO1seerSD0mM26qrDWcvc-EKY8lrlYCY1IomZjMwve2sixCb-yDNFiOzu8SIafVwX4GT2-n_Rtl3K__w0UWAdLiSbMn-dOVX_s/s640/blogger-image--1611175814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop9yOfdD6DL7TnqnvQfAeaYMGjOTMIGPhv-9O1-TB4WxO1seerSD0mM26qrDWcvc-EKY8lrlYCY1IomZjMwve2sixCb-yDNFiOzu8SIafVwX4GT2-n_Rtl3K__w0UWAdLiSbMn-dOVX_s/s640/blogger-image--1611175814.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As awful as the drive out here was, the camp site is fantastic. When it got dark, we could look down into the valley and see the lights of Boulder glittering below, and behind us the sliver of moon was light in the sky. There was a great breeze and it was a cool evening perfect for sleeping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For the first time since we set out, Diane and Todd actually made a real, hot dinner on the camp stove (pasta with meat sauce) and made a small camp fire in the fire ring. Todd decided right away that we would stay here for several days, basically until we run out of water, because it's nice here, and because we need to relax before tackling the drive back out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This morning (July 9), after our saviors left, we moved the Big Rolling Crate into the shady spot where they had parked, Todd set up some awnings and we all got right into relaxing camp mode. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, actually, first thing when we woke up, Todd turned to Diane and said, "Okay, I'm exhausted. I'm ready to go home." It seems that none of us understood how exhausting travel like we're doing would be, or just how long a month is. But once he had some nice coffee, he was right back in the swing of things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One thing we can all agree on is that we have to take the rest of the trip at a slower pace. We've been on the road a week and a half and we've been running a sprint. If we're going to keep this trip going--and keep having fun--it's time to slow things down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are a couple more pictures from our Gross Reservoir camp site:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVLdskTHMlii-OG5pOVyWqEE34GJfIdzCj0gY5bLjMTAq8sSDcJ3NEytUS-5bGc2BvWlrcb_yUQ1SBmr95RejEpnk1FCxu-5Lq-cYToZnTr_PpYOrCDvH96AfjF_rroLnD36x2EhTg1-y/s640/blogger-image--20546315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVLdskTHMlii-OG5pOVyWqEE34GJfIdzCj0gY5bLjMTAq8sSDcJ3NEytUS-5bGc2BvWlrcb_yUQ1SBmr95RejEpnk1FCxu-5Lq-cYToZnTr_PpYOrCDvH96AfjF_rroLnD36x2EhTg1-y/s640/blogger-image--20546315.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd put one side of the bus up no blocks to make the bed more level, but then it was so high up, we had to move a rock for a step in the door. I like hanging out under the bus in the shade where it stays cool because it is really hot and dry around here. Today it was almost 100 degrees but only 13% humidity! None of us can used to the lack of humidity. We first noticed just how dry it is out here in the West when we were in South Dakota, and we've all been dry-mouthed and thirsty pretty much continuously since then.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCIzfxC8DRnFCrLu5IW20SV4P17RbcWaRwI5eOBdjYnbRBLgv8FgpantLkPjXc2CTifCww5e3mo8eH5MK0PdxRmwjtw1WQgtBG8HgbDGsHkZ6FUFCEQ3hKlrBlw4PjiNANMGSVKs7pea8/s640/blogger-image-294143323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCIzfxC8DRnFCrLu5IW20SV4P17RbcWaRwI5eOBdjYnbRBLgv8FgpantLkPjXc2CTifCww5e3mo8eH5MK0PdxRmwjtw1WQgtBG8HgbDGsHkZ6FUFCEQ3hKlrBlw4PjiNANMGSVKs7pea8/s640/blogger-image-294143323.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's proof that we are indeed camping legally. We're at site 7, and it's all on the up and up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVgWgwzk8VEHjSi8MAQE-ONvkgK57t5tUuaKRn46UPcyxDXOdOU41dWurTakizc1qMccGtH_PR41j7L_xpm-nT75SZzLg_mKSy3R-j1EorMb0ERC_T7HLqYFJP0lVAWMQQNUrdeSS1NOA/s640/blogger-image--489976940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVgWgwzk8VEHjSi8MAQE-ONvkgK57t5tUuaKRn46UPcyxDXOdOU41dWurTakizc1qMccGtH_PR41j7L_xpm-nT75SZzLg_mKSy3R-j1EorMb0ERC_T7HLqYFJP0lVAWMQQNUrdeSS1NOA/s640/blogger-image--489976940.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this is smoke rising in the distance from a forest fire out in another canyon. We had only just gotten all set up and relaxed when we saw the smoke and we briefly wondered if the next thing would be an evacuation. Fortunately the fire was quite far away and we were safe. We called 911 and made sure, so no need to worry about us! Scout's honor!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqkMFcR0pRHmbfbPUv1_wcNEUKakKtCiN5bGMskG8hDSMmS55NUc69hFQEtZEsOX7KXKNtwM1zZXQC-0O89ORecktzQktQb7dgSVfQthIEQP796oMDCn-n3KM3AaqEAqsYo3J8hsNt1rp/s640/blogger-image-147185978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqkMFcR0pRHmbfbPUv1_wcNEUKakKtCiN5bGMskG8hDSMmS55NUc69hFQEtZEsOX7KXKNtwM1zZXQC-0O89ORecktzQktQb7dgSVfQthIEQP796oMDCn-n3KM3AaqEAqsYo3J8hsNt1rp/s640/blogger-image-147185978.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And lastly the view from our campsite, looking down the slope towards Boulder. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We're going to hang out here until Monday and then head back to Boulder and a hotel for a night to rest and clean up. We're all already totally filthy, and we don't want to waste water on showering, so we're going to properly dirty by Monday morning. Personally, I love it. The dirt here is so much fun to roll in. Diane is less excited about it, but she's in no hurry to make the drive out, so she's going along with it. Once she had a hotel reservation for Monday, she figured this camping stuff wouldn't be so bad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It seems we may have broken one of the new rear shocks on the Big Rolling Crate getting in here, so we have to get that fixed when we get back to town. Hopefully they can do it Monday and have it ready for Tuesday so we can roll out again towards our next destination.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-51267888677376816452016-07-09T20:15:00.001-04:002016-07-09T20:51:16.997-04:00Travelogue -- Rocky Mountain National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYqqGaxIk1rJ1HnoQ5qb_FLIivwYh6kSa8a8m8PJMFXfpZdHmtc-ZyfQmGDCFOu72KNPjOnc4dvB1YWMpOxELd_O7PbXxv02yzLXuUWI-rt35ceKXpz8duBZ2oRx9MWiGZd0-P4EuE0Cv/s640/blogger-image--1110263860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYqqGaxIk1rJ1HnoQ5qb_FLIivwYh6kSa8a8m8PJMFXfpZdHmtc-ZyfQmGDCFOu72KNPjOnc4dvB1YWMpOxELd_O7PbXxv02yzLXuUWI-rt35ceKXpz8duBZ2oRx9MWiGZd0-P4EuE0Cv/s640/blogger-image--1110263860.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Second National Park of the Todyssey! Rocky Mountain National Park!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After our lovely stop at the Jawed's on in Cheyenne on July 7, we took their advice and headed for Estes Park as a jumping off point to tour the Trail Ridge Highway in Rocky Mountain National Park. In typical fashion, we got the Estes Park rather late, around 8:45, and we were the last people to get a spot at the KOA there before they closed for the night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The people working at the KOA were as nice as can be, but honestly we didn't love staying there. They cram the RVs in like sardines in a can and there's no privacy or anything to make you want to hang out outside your own camper. We were hungry, but we didn't feel like getting all involved with camp cooking, so we just ate some snacks and made a plan for Friday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Friday morning, we woke up nice and early and decided to get a jump on things in the park like we did at the Badlands, as the info we read informed us that Rocky Mountain National Park is the 3rd most visited National Park in the country. We had already ignored their advice to plan in advance, so we figured the least wee could do was get into the park as quick as possible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This picture above is from the first stopping area when we drove onto scenic highway 34, the Trail Ridger Highway, our first glimpse of the big mountains. We also saw prairie dogs playing the meadow here. I would have loved to chase them, but Diane and Todd told me I had to be on my best behavior or I wouldn't be allowed out of the Big Rolling Crate in the park. I wanted to see the mountains and sniff all the mountain dirt and rocks, so I was good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The park is truly amazing. Just like Niagara Falls, the sight brought tears to Diane's eyes. The road is INSANE! It's hard to imagine what it took to built that road, winding its way up to an elevation of 12,000 feet, clinging to the side of a mountain. It was a white-knuckle drive for Todd the whole way. Often, the steep sides of the mountain fall sharply away from the road and the drop is hundreds of feet. There are no guard rails and often no shoulder. Sometimes you are on the outside going up, and sometimes you are on the outside going down, and it is scary. Diane isn't afraid of heights (although we're learning just how many thousands of things she is afraid of on this trip), but she couldn't look down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we drove up into the zone called the alpine tundra, we saw the last remaining snow drifts on the slops of the mountain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjCQeowVdbGsaoRlU3-gtBwr8xgiyUBTlfL3LkWAFCAYRytm-BKkgNMSSxiiLAbLs13qp-H447zUdl4oUrz6ZHlVVlEQeVzL5dT_4vxvLJXUCd8ZOKucTsiuzGvqPLQS-ZeF6SEziAeeM/s640/blogger-image--250101360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjCQeowVdbGsaoRlU3-gtBwr8xgiyUBTlfL3LkWAFCAYRytm-BKkgNMSSxiiLAbLs13qp-H447zUdl4oUrz6ZHlVVlEQeVzL5dT_4vxvLJXUCd8ZOKucTsiuzGvqPLQS-ZeF6SEziAeeM/s640/blogger-image--250101360.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's so weird to be in sandals and shorts and snow! Lower down on the mountain it was in the high 80s and sunny and hot, but up where it was slightly overcast, very windy, and chilly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEs7_NP4FXLRKy9fhxfARUORgJPoSb79NIxts3FuuDapzjKUj56IaUnSnSmUcleIuJiV7t3BQFYHp5lXc6GdqdAFA92l9EKiLm2QT507yT2tt6s912U1kekPGPgzeVleHCzWJEAT5fWqQ/s640/blogger-image-486172291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEs7_NP4FXLRKy9fhxfARUORgJPoSb79NIxts3FuuDapzjKUj56IaUnSnSmUcleIuJiV7t3BQFYHp5lXc6GdqdAFA92l9EKiLm2QT507yT2tt6s912U1kekPGPgzeVleHCzWJEAT5fWqQ/s640/blogger-image-486172291.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At the high point of the road, Diane and Todd were able to walk up a path to the Trail Ridge Peak at 12,300 feet. I'm very jealous that they saw a marmot up there. I wasn't allowed to go on the paths. Park rules.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were initially planning to drive across the continental divide, but once we reached the Alpine Visitors Center, we'd all had enough of the crazy driving and felt we'd seen as much as we could possibly take in, so we turned around and headed back towards Boulder, our next stopping point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are a few more pictures from the park:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY9eOVFFJ_5kc4M7gmYwPrszffB86PfShLTB0TPnX5IJBGAzvnl7gcIWlpBE5omPi8IYHl3EUvnLA1bo4WCp9LEf4VhtCEgpxq44r4_p9LYCONaG0Tbw6rcWPcOhKPhD1TUdrNMJNUC9c/s640/blogger-image--8484175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY9eOVFFJ_5kc4M7gmYwPrszffB86PfShLTB0TPnX5IJBGAzvnl7gcIWlpBE5omPi8IYHl3EUvnLA1bo4WCp9LEf4VhtCEgpxq44r4_p9LYCONaG0Tbw6rcWPcOhKPhD1TUdrNMJNUC9c/s640/blogger-image--8484175.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbg90AxlouLn07tdwTqYFFkDq4kPclpW-jsfnmFpYOJrGeyoaoqGvGc7rqWc1GyonCFpA8h2aPJkMkaoscYlUTcdfbFNs4C2Y0pO2VZf9y9NNPAOP41qB2lDb_EtUV2Uo731cm9UjEMKr/s640/blogger-image--975481291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbg90AxlouLn07tdwTqYFFkDq4kPclpW-jsfnmFpYOJrGeyoaoqGvGc7rqWc1GyonCFpA8h2aPJkMkaoscYlUTcdfbFNs4C2Y0pO2VZf9y9NNPAOP41qB2lDb_EtUV2Uo731cm9UjEMKr/s640/blogger-image--975481291.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVockb6VG1pdABbLA55g1Qe1LtU9WsTJa7b4Oh1NxFfzoQqVjQ7S_6-6qrwUwvCi1ZWeEaldJ2pZQ611Sju9qUowr-24WvLUMZSiXifmCMcAtr7VsEDpUKhVov-vXqQAtTlCY_BI6joWi/s640/blogger-image--855907571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVockb6VG1pdABbLA55g1Qe1LtU9WsTJa7b4Oh1NxFfzoQqVjQ7S_6-6qrwUwvCi1ZWeEaldJ2pZQ611Sju9qUowr-24WvLUMZSiXifmCMcAtr7VsEDpUKhVov-vXqQAtTlCY_BI6joWi/s640/blogger-image--855907571.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's a good thing Todd and Diane figured out how to drive the truck in the mountains. Without our lessons from the Black Hills, we never could have made it through the park. But now that we know to climb and descend in low gear, everything is going great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A really nice local lady who took Diane and Todd's picture at an overlook gave us some advice about where we might go next, so we took her suggestion and headed towards Boulder. On the way, we saw kids tubing in this stream and stopped for a quick dip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXqVmiVRy9krn62PugtcTq5aheFBn-uP0iPwU6b2NXGPQGpTNEaoGA5pQb1E14cplIFMJ5wABNWUJiRFYP6gcni4aPQvoy1n03PswUUFK5eMGBb-RViIR3kwwN2BIx_P-Pxn-p4eeKGSl/s640/blogger-image-1989514191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXqVmiVRy9krn62PugtcTq5aheFBn-uP0iPwU6b2NXGPQGpTNEaoGA5pQb1E14cplIFMJ5wABNWUJiRFYP6gcni4aPQvoy1n03PswUUFK5eMGBb-RViIR3kwwN2BIx_P-Pxn-p4eeKGSl/s640/blogger-image-1989514191.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Afterwards, we called the state park that had been recommended to us to see about camping, but they said they were a day park only, so we tried plan B: The Boulder County Fairgrounds, which Diane found online. They normally allowed RV camping and it's only $15 a night if you don't need a hook-up. But we got there and learned we should have done more homework, because there was a festival and therefore no camping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was already around 5:00 and as it was Friday night, we knew finding a place to stay was going to be tough. We probably need to plan ahead better for weekends. Weekdays are easy, but on the weekends, everyone wants to go have fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some quick research lead us to believe we'd find good dispersed camping about 8 miles from Boulder in Roosevelt State Forest near Gross Reservoir, so we provisioned and headed off into the canyons.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-69476466081247411182016-07-07T18:04:00.001-04:002016-07-07T18:17:19.921-04:00Travelogue -- Wyoming<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutZYNLvTrQx_k73aVRzWhTxEWFMyuUx1HJAd8alkEZVnFUPiYsHv0uK8NXn1lJCBKBWHHrrnDdRffad5TBx6P2aZILWlmgtYHqpFbPpbeHFPk0JdGROGX-WQVNowqIkixWOj8tOoTEdu-/s640/blogger-image--93382685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutZYNLvTrQx_k73aVRzWhTxEWFMyuUx1HJAd8alkEZVnFUPiYsHv0uK8NXn1lJCBKBWHHrrnDdRffad5TBx6P2aZILWlmgtYHqpFbPpbeHFPk0JdGROGX-WQVNowqIkixWOj8tOoTEdu-/s640/blogger-image--93382685.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On July 6, we left our Boondock and <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">turned South into Wyoming, and let me tell you: Wyoming is terrifying. The wind roars across the plain, the weather turns violent all around you and you can see it change from miles away. There's wildlife everywhere and the highways are dark and empty. It's beautiful, too, but my overall impression is that it is one crazy place to be.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I'm writing this from a very nice place: the home of the Jaweds, kind friends who are wonderful hosts and who are letting us use their washer and dryer. Todd and Jawed have gone to the big Sierra Trading Post store, because they both love bargains, but Diane didn't feel like she needed a shopping trip so she stayed with me and we're getting all caught up on our writing.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The first thing that happened when we left our Boondock was a steep descent out of the Black Hills, and it turns out the truck doesn't like descending any more than it likes climbing. On the long 7% grade, we had to pull over because our brakes were overheating and losing power. As Diane watched Todd inspecting things under the hood, she mentioned he might try using a low gear to go downhill without so much braking. When we got back on the road, he did just that and everything went just fine. It was after that, at lunch, that he saw that sticker about using lower gears to climb hills and descend steep grades.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We stopped for lunch at Cheyenne Crossing and Todd suggested it was time for a hotel night. Diane was shocked that he was the one who had reached that conclusion, but she was happy, too. We drove on highway 85 South, stopping for a hike at the Eagle Cliff Trails. We had a nice stroll, but then a thunderstorm swept up so we had to turn back.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqsr8qJKnX6oKXJU1eu4QyvtKa9pfJednjTpurfgCeJO1Ryi5Ba9g9-R5E4EchMS2wmogmQvHmM0ayLXJI-tVQOk6OWuOFw1E9qonUbU5JAqgBADJT0dwORo4UGD-Reo3OAOxhWhdlKs6/s640/blogger-image--949842576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqsr8qJKnX6oKXJU1eu4QyvtKa9pfJednjTpurfgCeJO1Ryi5Ba9g9-R5E4EchMS2wmogmQvHmM0ayLXJI-tVQOk6OWuOFw1E9qonUbU5JAqgBADJT0dwORo4UGD-Reo3OAOxhWhdlKs6/s640/blogger-image--949842576.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From there, we drove on to Newcastle, Wyoming in worsening weather. Thunder and lightening all around, wind, pouring rain. It was crazy! But it all came and went quickly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-FmB4UEGBaVvIH_FgmC2DfV8Uihup-Mvy9bcWIIrsN9GLhsUMweScHo2ni_0ujTro8y9Z5QJMiFPbVdxUFC-gljso_1YIhtMhIdOw35tfYeKBGr0U0ZMRwYWsCnJZPKiSANrpjOI08dh/s640/blogger-image--1779582193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-FmB4UEGBaVvIH_FgmC2DfV8Uihup-Mvy9bcWIIrsN9GLhsUMweScHo2ni_0ujTro8y9Z5QJMiFPbVdxUFC-gljso_1YIhtMhIdOw35tfYeKBGr0U0ZMRwYWsCnJZPKiSANrpjOI08dh/s640/blogger-image--1779582193.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> The view from a scenic overlook at Salt Creek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpNOTleBRt5sB2YPbEB3FpVuQHw6OqiuMyHhts_LZh6M_PGgF5Jp-TO_HXwCZjcZ5USOBK5S7f_4ULUMBUGxR0qfmg1WL2Tysc7fkAEYs1T1WWDrr2EtxuZm3H8RjYjrkoBGUh0atPV4t/s640/blogger-image-13469671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpNOTleBRt5sB2YPbEB3FpVuQHw6OqiuMyHhts_LZh6M_PGgF5Jp-TO_HXwCZjcZ5USOBK5S7f_4ULUMBUGxR0qfmg1WL2Tysc7fkAEYs1T1WWDrr2EtxuZm3H8RjYjrkoBGUh0atPV4t/s640/blogger-image-13469671.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At Newcastle, Diane had enough cell reception to make a hotel reservation for a place in Wheatland, WY, about 150 miles away, at a place with a pool and hot tub, and then we just had the long and harrowing driving down highway 85 in truly insane wind with what seemed to be violent weather forming on all sides. The relief we all felt when we finally reached Wheatland cannot be underestimated. It took us 4 hours to drive that 150 miles, and getting out of the Big Rolling Crate never felt so good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So now we're all caught up on the blog and we're soon to head off to our next stop, Rocky Mountain National Park and National Forest. Colorado, here we come! </div><br></div><br></div><br></font></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-19414567062450300062016-07-07T17:42:00.001-04:002016-07-07T17:49:58.327-04:00Boondock Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCi0h5cHDUzals3MvTdFyJyvD7pLeTGRJfSMAyiOBIF7dPqxlq24YUy0-fN5GXi9LFQXcJP9vUEM2Ts27LVGf7HItvekiN_AHQ9a-1xFO_7ucusMrcMoP_jM2_4E31HSd6a1xS09Fodrs/s640/blogger-image--182627617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCi0h5cHDUzals3MvTdFyJyvD7pLeTGRJfSMAyiOBIF7dPqxlq24YUy0-fN5GXi9LFQXcJP9vUEM2Ts27LVGf7HItvekiN_AHQ9a-1xFO_7ucusMrcMoP_jM2_4E31HSd6a1xS09Fodrs/s640/blogger-image--182627617.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stayed at our first Boondock for 2 nights to recover from the long drive west. Todd made coffee in a French press, heating up water on a jet-boil, because that's how we roll. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBBwoybURYuEnskRnoWBNOsCgF8auNG7E40ucjMMYl9UrQq3dCaGWtVV-72UqQ5JJIDixRtv9fdb8QZennsbtQzuG1ioZhewyZWnANA84PG8RY4qXI_FRTX7W7XErHtdKa1Z27k6Xoye4/s640/blogger-image--423827862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBBwoybURYuEnskRnoWBNOsCgF8auNG7E40ucjMMYl9UrQq3dCaGWtVV-72UqQ5JJIDixRtv9fdb8QZennsbtQzuG1ioZhewyZWnANA84PG8RY4qXI_FRTX7W7XErHtdKa1Z27k6Xoye4/s640/blogger-image--423827862.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This picture is my favorite stand of trees. I spent most of our time here laying the grass in the shade and relaxing. I didn't need a leash or a collar and I could just chill by myself and take a break from protecting Todd from all dangers, real and imagined.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgQgNIPCb53JKqAw5eY1MUErRQrv4u6MwF4oZlB9c3lYWQiIR0Lq94h-GDE6F7HtjNDk9KEz4zRT4iDW7Krpg9hw4ePdEFyNQV0rmF6NoS14mUfhICcTpCLaGnPsZ1B44gAPmcg5Mlmm2/s640/blogger-image-389321548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgQgNIPCb53JKqAw5eY1MUErRQrv4u6MwF4oZlB9c3lYWQiIR0Lq94h-GDE6F7HtjNDk9KEz4zRT4iDW7Krpg9hw4ePdEFyNQV0rmF6NoS14mUfhICcTpCLaGnPsZ1B44gAPmcg5Mlmm2/s640/blogger-image-389321548.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This spring-fed trough was just uphill from our camp. The water was extremely clear and perfectly odor free. Todd sterilized it with a steri-pen to make sure it was safe, and we used it for the solar shower, washing dishes, and for things like coffee, where it would be boiled first. We're not taking any chances with water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hGcE9ovRdlqYGpkdHGOuar4Odohd8vrZzUBj8xJyTyGHmTJi3beCyK3fHqCa_AtNs5ERj4tmsoAchTeTPRNgeZmGEoIpS3XGU9_j3jPdFWPfQxBJbTjVIft8CeWO1PGG_2yv3y7X-uhG/s640/blogger-image-283555426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hGcE9ovRdlqYGpkdHGOuar4Odohd8vrZzUBj8xJyTyGHmTJi3beCyK3fHqCa_AtNs5ERj4tmsoAchTeTPRNgeZmGEoIpS3XGU9_j3jPdFWPfQxBJbTjVIft8CeWO1PGG_2yv3y7X-uhG/s640/blogger-image-283555426.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We took a nice hike up the ridge behind our camp site to the top of this rocky hill. Todd and Diane ate wild raspberries and I sniffed all sorts of unfamiliar scat. Todd wanted to keep walking on the ridge, but Diane saw a rattlesnake in one of the rocky crevices and we were all a little rattled after that, so we carefully made our way back to camp for a delicious lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Both nights at our Boondock, thunderstorms rolled past, but they were fleeting and refreshing so we didn't mind. Todd took two rides on his mountain bike while Diane and I hung around camp and wrote these blog entries to post when we got back to civilization.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane doesn't like to mountain bike, so Todd had to do that alone, but he took a walkie-talkie and checked in a lot, turning around once he couldn't reach us anymore. He got enough cell phone reception in one pass to get some messages out to Mammam Dot so she wouldn't worry about not hearing from us for days, which was nice of him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All in all, our first Boondock with a great success. Diane was quite nervous when we headed off into the wild, but Todd has safety in mind and promises we won't do anything dangerous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are some more pictures:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6Nyy6OAZb7kmUsblKkqojhqDNUZQ9hLpMmj_aY_MN3lYwKHzYom37JiMhQcGmXcg8I9n4ukTAyAsbyrZ-XNegaBRdc3bvmwoh1aMTXW9VF3U_lx9Ra-tJsDlUWCFP2jHjl-kGkvhbd0u/s640/blogger-image--882267121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6Nyy6OAZb7kmUsblKkqojhqDNUZQ9hLpMmj_aY_MN3lYwKHzYom37JiMhQcGmXcg8I9n4ukTAyAsbyrZ-XNegaBRdc3bvmwoh1aMTXW9VF3U_lx9Ra-tJsDlUWCFP2jHjl-kGkvhbd0u/s640/blogger-image--882267121.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HarV9JqTzGAVtIi5mAyUzg359ebYBtDZbNN4t8uKew3iU-_6Ej3UJwsdvzf2GjLPU0AwIYr1iio5bAM7rP6UHrlOeKkWUmlehuVs4mAiRhhTOBpkFJuWJbG4aMbd3iCyXs1VeC3kwdE6/s640/blogger-image-782243440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HarV9JqTzGAVtIi5mAyUzg359ebYBtDZbNN4t8uKew3iU-_6Ej3UJwsdvzf2GjLPU0AwIYr1iio5bAM7rP6UHrlOeKkWUmlehuVs4mAiRhhTOBpkFJuWJbG4aMbd3iCyXs1VeC3kwdE6/s640/blogger-image-782243440.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljzle0fZXJSB3-0aBRNqltEJ1whjdw-JtxKLP6eeKJHoCEtKbwLfwUDqWRwt7E_wtM0CryS26sS4jak32C7TJaHrpAVdsKJDbON25XonijZgRiMnyqy1yH7BMbyPqJMiRQ0U7Vxnd5ebF/s640/blogger-image--1496358711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljzle0fZXJSB3-0aBRNqltEJ1whjdw-JtxKLP6eeKJHoCEtKbwLfwUDqWRwt7E_wtM0CryS26sS4jak32C7TJaHrpAVdsKJDbON25XonijZgRiMnyqy1yH7BMbyPqJMiRQ0U7Vxnd5ebF/s640/blogger-image--1496358711.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtksQLWlM0HQ-Px2PSfZZOu6lkc7oiaZ_iwB6ymr3QpeX72-LfcY4YVL27A9oBlHkGRL6ar_kmpzcmcpITKqNISysyc5UKqT_-F0GnY-c5WkQTwJVk56FMYwFlgXTQSqyRd2dxeVo9iue/s640/blogger-image--1825828312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtksQLWlM0HQ-Px2PSfZZOu6lkc7oiaZ_iwB6ymr3QpeX72-LfcY4YVL27A9oBlHkGRL6ar_kmpzcmcpITKqNISysyc5UKqT_-F0GnY-c5WkQTwJVk56FMYwFlgXTQSqyRd2dxeVo9iue/s640/blogger-image--1825828312.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-84864914004549305052016-07-07T17:30:00.001-04:002016-07-07T17:30:51.396-04:00Travelogue -- First Boondocking!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQUg5el7IfCpGTJ4WYOLsSu4Ob405FluKZx3M1qKK9a4-hqf0-7klrwnZyuZwTtJDAyvY7gK5UDaDR9DNrK7rcXvnQGeZ3kOnlohR9pXwQcepJzd-dOl5A9ii0nWcjaac-8RsMRXDbkux/s640/blogger-image--972977939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQUg5el7IfCpGTJ4WYOLsSu4Ob405FluKZx3M1qKK9a4-hqf0-7klrwnZyuZwTtJDAyvY7gK5UDaDR9DNrK7rcXvnQGeZ3kOnlohR9pXwQcepJzd-dOl5A9ii0nWcjaac-8RsMRXDbkux/s640/blogger-image--972977939.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After The Badlands, we were all very hot and very tired from driving 2000 miles in 5 days in a vehicle that must be driven no faster than 55 MPH unless conditions are ideal, in which case it can go a whopping 60 MPH. We'd come a long way, sleeping only in Walmarts and a rest area, and those were not the most restful nights (although they weren't as bad as Diane had feared). Todd decided it was time to use the Big Rolling Crate for its intended purpose: Camping!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We refreshed our provisions in Rapid City and then drove up into Black Hills National Forest for some boondocking. Boondocking, also known as dispersed camping, is something foreign to most folks on the East Coast where there's no wide open land to roam, but here in the West it is common. In National Forests and other Bureau of Land Management areas, you can drive down certain types of "roads" into the wilderness and make a camping spot of your own choosing, totally free of cost. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Most RVs can't do this sort of camping because those vehicles aren't made for off-roading, but we are driving a change-on-the-fly 4WD diesel with six wheels and serious tires. Our limiting factors are ground clearance (ok but not great) and weight (we weight almost 10,000 pounds). After studying a map of the Black Hills, Todd got some ideas and we were off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But not so fast, it turns out, as climbing the steep grades into the hills nearly made us overheat. Twice. Thankfully Todd was paying close attention and we pulled over and cooled off before anything bad happened. We also learned how to prevent this on future hills (because if we can't tackle the Black Hills we have no hope in the Rockies!), which is to gear down to 3rd. Actually there's a sticker inside the driver's door that Todd only noticed after this near-disaster that said specifically, "Do not use overdrive for steep climbs."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The off-reading was quite bumpy but also exciting and the truck handled well. Todd made Diane get out and video the truck rumbling along while he videoed with his Go-Pro. Todd's going to make an epic DIY TopGear-style video at the end of the trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Once we found a site, around 5 o'clock, we settled in and Todd's vision for the Big Rolling Crate really came together. He unhooked the bikes, installed screen panels he'd built for the back doors, set up an awning for shade over the back, and we had a lovely home away from home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGoYHzmOmY0fwlEJ8I1JMV_lCfWhMaVu-b4OQj7IyUHUBLOQeFPNiHskc56zB128vixYPOohVzs2zbJSHSmCDmEKC4jTGknqnrKuheQKprL4l3LScehhFrqeQGXrYETsBSPyLQ_K3I7oe/s640/blogger-image-1063928607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGoYHzmOmY0fwlEJ8I1JMV_lCfWhMaVu-b4OQj7IyUHUBLOQeFPNiHskc56zB128vixYPOohVzs2zbJSHSmCDmEKC4jTGknqnrKuheQKprL4l3LScehhFrqeQGXrYETsBSPyLQ_K3I7oe/s640/blogger-image-1063928607.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-77469286667118256192016-07-07T17:02:00.001-04:002016-07-07T17:16:32.799-04:00Travelogue -- The Badlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2KN12JowDtHInXWUBb43ce5VsrS4qSEzePStu1ljNORIaFyPJcYAoyEFyArJfNGezHuonuIrSPe0mFHgwB1hJ5Nt0Tea0eP70-_nnoSWmq5VGT-gkfSEXI8zRRG-pVnxtVxS8DKAs8TL/s640/blogger-image-294757263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2KN12JowDtHInXWUBb43ce5VsrS4qSEzePStu1ljNORIaFyPJcYAoyEFyArJfNGezHuonuIrSPe0mFHgwB1hJ5Nt0Tea0eP70-_nnoSWmq5VGT-gkfSEXI8zRRG-pVnxtVxS8DKAs8TL/s640/blogger-image-294757263.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On July 4, Todd woke up before dawn at the rest area where we had stopped in the wee hours of the morning and started driving once again. Diane stayed in the back with me to catch a little more sleep, as Todd did the past two days during Diane's afternoon shift of driving. Todd likes riding in the back with me, but Diane hated it. She said it made her feel sick. Todd says it's like being in a boat, but we all know Diane doesn't love boats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped just after sunrise so Diane could get back up front and then we drove a couple of hours to our first National Park: The Badlands. We arrived at about 7:30 AM on a sunny, blue-sky day that promised to be very hot. The scenic byway through the park was already crowded with other tourists, including tons of other campers like us, but we didn't see any other ambulance campers. We met a couple from Rhode Island who had driven a pick-up truck camper and they were impressed with our speed. They'd been on the road twice as long as we had.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We used our America the Beautiful National Parks Pass for the first time to enter the park, which seemed fitting since it was the Fourth of July. I got to get out and explore at a lot of scenic vistas with Diane and Todd, but I couldn't go on the trails with them. They took some short walks to various outlooks and took tons of pictures, and they told me all about in between. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They say the Badlands feels like something right out of science fiction or like walking on the surface of the moon. It's vastness is astonishing, and it's easy to imagine the first French explorers who came upon it and named it "mauvais terre a traverser," because if there weren't this lovely paved road for us to drive, we certainly wouldn't want to cross it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We toured the park all morning until it was lunch time and then we hit our first tourist trap since Niagara Falls: Wall Drug, in Wall S.D. Wall Drug's claim to fame is mostly it's bumper stickers ("Where the heck is Wall Drug?") and the fact that it is in the middle of nowhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane and Todd were worried that it was too hot in the bus for me, so they grabbed takeout, Todd took a quick pass through a splash park, and we got back on the road towards Rapid City.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are a few a more pics from the day:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs92ht3V0xEuO2BVNDbN4sXVOuHypHI6hZKy5p0-0yWY03DmxDcWeEMU-rG_GJdB8nHZSwGGzZ4n7UmD4BKIumA45VopkVRiW0gXaWdn0gFEzn50Nbv_EokNrv5PjgFD4fGTqI2FrIFYGl/s640/blogger-image--370037089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs92ht3V0xEuO2BVNDbN4sXVOuHypHI6hZKy5p0-0yWY03DmxDcWeEMU-rG_GJdB8nHZSwGGzZ4n7UmD4BKIumA45VopkVRiW0gXaWdn0gFEzn50Nbv_EokNrv5PjgFD4fGTqI2FrIFYGl/s640/blogger-image--370037089.jpg"></a></div>South Dakota Sunrise</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup45xLoD8qHv_XaEkbtOcd4adzhx3lZAWQg95DBsikSHcfVSHDNhtCMeDB76YlQDzBQd3jWzWa9nI3wHjFwf7fUP4Gk5WLpmwbaQ0WBIzTAEQgq1kwZa2upOiGPcLLV6CxR7HP0V2Jopc/s640/blogger-image-1299862780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup45xLoD8qHv_XaEkbtOcd4adzhx3lZAWQg95DBsikSHcfVSHDNhtCMeDB76YlQDzBQd3jWzWa9nI3wHjFwf7fUP4Gk5WLpmwbaQ0WBIzTAEQgq1kwZa2upOiGPcLLV6CxR7HP0V2Jopc/s640/blogger-image-1299862780.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last of the grassy plain before entering The Badlands</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxxC8JB2GOvTLKO5LBf3kSAWAGt6HIfvWDkEXrMcLuADw97n1JTjjRxTNcqNrmb2eTFQwl8Ac99OlzljeqoFlwiR6CsNjK4fA5ILJz1ef2UKRI6X-UC7GYseCdpdfYWFk0UuJyF6K7K6R/s640/blogger-image-147725269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxxC8JB2GOvTLKO5LBf3kSAWAGt6HIfvWDkEXrMcLuADw97n1JTjjRxTNcqNrmb2eTFQwl8Ac99OlzljeqoFlwiR6CsNjK4fA5ILJz1ef2UKRI6X-UC7GYseCdpdfYWFk0UuJyF6K7K6R/s640/blogger-image-147725269.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some of the Badlands are canyons and some are hills. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCsyMXc_Uqm940fOrRkH-7Xch1fLMamlFtc5NvZhC0ZJ4g5DmPriWoKPiVgNaQn6BTb-PnAgKBb2MiEfGFFgnA8or_RGFKC2LDBfcRjRPZcHhHtEEOTiRbN2eE90l4ojURxG_TR1513ZH/s640/blogger-image-1411419294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCsyMXc_Uqm940fOrRkH-7Xch1fLMamlFtc5NvZhC0ZJ4g5DmPriWoKPiVgNaQn6BTb-PnAgKBb2MiEfGFFgnA8or_RGFKC2LDBfcRjRPZcHhHtEEOTiRbN2eE90l4ojURxG_TR1513ZH/s640/blogger-image-1411419294.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd at Wall Drug</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845107337020528262.post-39127029073403882442016-07-07T11:33:00.002-04:002016-07-07T11:33:28.857-04:00Travelogue -- Crossing the Plains<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75q8KhVqiPvrjaISxEE69XneNoFOAIqB7lgOiIh_BM1BWEOGkNJOuS-EPmFq3Ijq9r3qF8d8BO5xtMpnvaadS3xY0L5UXiULjXUtUV9q-twUetIz144g4IuCkDXStn6l2dAVx9rH1jVmG/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75q8KhVqiPvrjaISxEE69XneNoFOAIqB7lgOiIh_BM1BWEOGkNJOuS-EPmFq3Ijq9r3qF8d8BO5xtMpnvaadS3xY0L5UXiULjXUtUV9q-twUetIz144g4IuCkDXStn6l2dAVx9rH1jVmG/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On July 3, we had a leisurely morning in Tomah, WI while Diane and Todd struggled in vain to find anyplace in town where they could get a cell signal or wifi to do some more route planning with their smartphones. They couldn't decide if they wanted to stay on I-90 or take I-94. South Dakota or North Dakota, that was the question. In the end, they never did find any reception so they had to plan using their old 50 States road atlas, which led them to conclude that I-90 was the way to go.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So on they drove into Minnesota. We crossed the mighty Mississippi River, but it was so early in the day's driving that we didn't stop to do any recreating. The rolling green hills of the farmland were as bucolic as any you'll find in the world, and the air smelled clean and fresh, and although it was somewhat monotonous, it was pretty.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPMxbQuJDu7lHqIJWx4dllcT9xKjcy0wusO9l-K6AmC-qyDQeME4XhrCsxdV9pS0G_2U-Sh36t42QbGHQJXkJMOPY5qnenIap250cGlujsnjFxzyKUiSD-N3pDfMpWwvtUaH6OOHwtFJ2/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPMxbQuJDu7lHqIJWx4dllcT9xKjcy0wusO9l-K6AmC-qyDQeME4XhrCsxdV9pS0G_2U-Sh36t42QbGHQJXkJMOPY5qnenIap250cGlujsnjFxzyKUiSD-N3pDfMpWwvtUaH6OOHwtFJ2/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As lunch time rolled around, Todd happily had enough cell reception to learn that there was a state park on a lake where we could stop for a walk and a snack. It was called Myre-Big Island. When we got to the Big Island parking area, there were people setting up for a wedding in the picnic pavilion, and if I do say so myself, they had a most perfect day for a wedding. Blue sky, perfect temperature, a nice little breeze. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We took a nice walk and I got to swim twice, although afterward, as we were driving away, Diane started to think it hadn't been such a good idea to let me swim because surrounding that park on all sides were field after field of corn with signs from energy companies marking the sections. The corn was being grown for ethanol, which Diane concluded meant that it was probably grown with more pesticides and fertilizers than are allowed in corn for food. But they did wash me off with fresh water after I swam because I also might have rolled in some mud, so Todd figured it had all been okay. I feel fine, so I don't think there was anything wrong with that water.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After lunch, Diane took a long spell of driving, finishing up Minnesota and bring in us to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Todd wanted to drive all night after a stop for dinner because, as he put, "we started the trip on the back foot," and he wanted "to get on the front foot." By that I think he meant that we had gotten into a rut of finishing up our driving later and later each night, and he wanted to fix it by just driving all night.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fortunately for all of us, Diane prevailed upon him to compromise and they decided we'd go as far as Chamberlain, South Dakota and then stop until morning. Todd wanted to see the Badlands, and if he drove all night, he'd pass them right by, so it didn't take much to bring him around to this plan. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As we drove out of Sioux Falls, we saw fireworks everywhere, people celebrating Fourth of July weekend all around us. Soon enough though, the fireworks stopped and we were on the darkest highway yet. No lights, no towns, few exits, not even any illuminated billboards. At last we reached a really nice rest area near Chamberlain where people aren't supposed to camp but parking for up to 3 hours is okay. There were dozens of campers and tractor trailers there already, so we found a nice place to park and settled in.</span></span></div>
Diane Vanaskie Mulliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17102519776873374530noreply@blogger.com0